Issued COVID FPN by a police officer

Issued COVID FPN by a police officer

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Discussion

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 5th March 2021
quotequote all
Yes, the 'for' is presented as the cause which isn't really accurate.

We have to have a little knowledge about it to infer it's for people who didn't have a reasonable excuse.


Not sure why you'd go from Blackpool to Cleethorpes. Are Blackpool's fish and chips inferior?




Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Friday 5th March 2021
quotequote all
La Liga said:
Yes, the 'for' is presented as the cause which isn't really accurate.

We have to have a little knowledge about it to infer it's for people who didn't have a reasonable excuse.


Not sure why you'd go from Blackpool to Cleethorpes. Are Blackpool's fish and chips inferior?
They're both total stholes so I'm stumped....

blueg33

35,580 posts

223 months

Friday 5th March 2021
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
La Liga said:
Yes, the 'for' is presented as the cause which isn't really accurate.

We have to have a little knowledge about it to infer it's for people who didn't have a reasonable excuse.


Not sure why you'd go from Blackpool to Cleethorpes. Are Blackpool's fish and chips inferior?
They're both total stholes so I'm stumped....
Cleethorpes is better than Blackpool, but there are even better places in between

Gareth79

7,628 posts

245 months

Saturday 6th March 2021
quotequote all
This is in the news today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-5...
"A helicopter pilot's 80-mile round trip to pick up a beef sandwich from a farm shop was a "flagrant abuse" of lockdown rules, a councillor has said."

I can't see any law has been broken - the shop was open and the pilot traveled there to collect food, which *furthermore* was obviously pre-ordered and they didn't even get out? The law doesn't specify distance, and 80 miles return in a helicopter is not very far. It was also mentioned here before that pilots and aircraft need to fly regularly, so it may be legitimately a flight to keep things "warmed over".


Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Saturday 6th March 2021
quotequote all
Gareth79 said:
This is in the news today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-5...
"A helicopter pilot's 80-mile round trip to pick up a beef sandwich from a farm shop was a "flagrant abuse" of lockdown rules, a councillor has said."

I can't see any law has been broken - the shop was open and the pilot traveled there to collect food, which *furthermore* was obviously pre-ordered and they didn't even get out? The law doesn't specify distance, and 80 miles return in a helicopter is not very far. It was also mentioned here before that pilots and aircraft need to fly regularly, so it may be legitimately a flight to keep things "warmed over".
He actually said it "does seem to be a flagrant abuse of the restrictions on travel under the current lockdown rules". A councillor offered an opinion. He's as entitled to one as anyone else. Anyone else is entitled to ignore it.

Nibbles_bits

991 posts

38 months

Saturday 6th March 2021
quotequote all
Gareth79 said:
This is in the news today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-5...
"A helicopter pilot's 80-mile round trip to pick up a beef sandwich from a farm shop was a "flagrant abuse" of lockdown rules, a councillor has said."

I can't see any law has been broken - the shop was open and the pilot traveled there to collect food, which *furthermore* was obviously pre-ordered and they didn't even get out? The law doesn't specify distance, and 80 miles return in a helicopter is not very far. It was also mentioned here before that pilots and aircraft need to fly regularly, so it may be legitimately a flight to keep things "warmed over".
laugh one rule for them..........

48k

12,981 posts

147 months

Saturday 6th March 2021
quotequote all
Gareth79 said:
This is in the news today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-5...
"A helicopter pilot's 80-mile round trip to pick up a beef sandwich from a farm shop was a "flagrant abuse" of lockdown rules, a councillor has said."

I can't see any law has been broken - the shop was open and the pilot traveled there to collect food, which *furthermore* was obviously pre-ordered and they didn't even get out? The law doesn't specify distance, and 80 miles return in a helicopter is not very far. It was also mentioned here before that pilots and aircraft need to fly regularly, so it may be legitimately a flight to keep things "warmed over".
Maintenance flight maintaining licence currency and collecting food. Seems legit. coffee

Jazzy Jag

3,412 posts

90 months

Saturday 6th March 2021
quotequote all
48k said:
Gareth79 said:
This is in the news today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-5...
"A helicopter pilot's 80-mile round trip to pick up a beef sandwich from a farm shop was a "flagrant abuse" of lockdown rules, a councillor has said."

I can't see any law has been broken - the shop was open and the pilot traveled there to collect food, which *furthermore* was obviously pre-ordered and they didn't even get out? The law doesn't specify distance, and 80 miles return in a helicopter is not very far. It was also mentioned here before that pilots and aircraft need to fly regularly, so it may be legitimately a flight to keep things "warmed over".
Maintenance flight maintaining licence currency and collecting food. Seems legit. coffee
Alone in a Helicopter at x feet above the ground.

How much more socially distanced can you get?

NikBartlett

594 posts

80 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
quotequote all
Do Police forces have COVID19 FPN targets that they need to meet otherwise questions are asked in Whitehall over their COVID19 policing effectiveness ? Seems to me that many of these FPNs are issued for "low hanging fruit" offences which would indicate a target driven policing strategy.

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
quotequote all
NikBartlett said:
Do Police forces have COVID19 FPN targets that they need to meet otherwise questions are asked in Whitehall over their COVID19 policing effectiveness ? Seems to me that many of these FPNs are issued for "low hanging fruit" offences which would indicate a target driven policing strategy.


Why would it indicate that? Have you seen how few have been issued?

Hugo Stiglitz

37,010 posts

210 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
Greendubber said:
La Liga said:
Yes, the 'for' is presented as the cause which isn't really accurate.

We have to have a little knowledge about it to infer it's for people who didn't have a reasonable excuse.


Not sure why you'd go from Blackpool to Cleethorpes. Are Blackpool's fish and chips inferior?
They're both total stholes so I'm stumped....
Cleethorpes is better than Blackpool, but there are even better places in between
Huddersfield has the best fish n chips, a big density of good quality ones.

Nibbles_bits

991 posts

38 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
quotequote all
NikBartlett said:
Do Police forces have COVID19 FPN targets that they need to meet otherwise questions are asked in Whitehall over their COVID19 policing effectiveness ? Seems to me that many of these FPNs are issued for "low hanging fruit" offences which would indicate a target driven policing strategy.
No.
Police Officers don't have targets.

Greendubber

13,129 posts

202 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
quotequote all
Nibbles_bits said:
NikBartlett said:
Do Police forces have COVID19 FPN targets that they need to meet otherwise questions are asked in Whitehall over their COVID19 policing effectiveness ? Seems to me that many of these FPNs are issued for "low hanging fruit" offences which would indicate a target driven policing strategy.
No.
Police Officers don't have targets.
Apart from my target of issuing zero tickets biggrin

Nibbles_bits

991 posts

38 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
Nibbles_bits said:
NikBartlett said:
Do Police forces have COVID19 FPN targets that they need to meet otherwise questions are asked in Whitehall over their COVID19 policing effectiveness ? Seems to me that many of these FPNs are issued for "low hanging fruit" offences which would indicate a target driven policing strategy.
No.
Police Officers don't have targets.
Apart from my target of issuing zero tickets biggrin
Personal target
biggrin

blueg33

35,580 posts

223 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
quotequote all
I assume firearms officers in training have targets smile

Gooly

Original Poster:

965 posts

147 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
Hello - sorry to drag this thread back up. The person who I was with received their FPN last week. I've yet to receive anything (we were dealt with by two different officers). I've told my pal that they should file a complaint to the met in the hope that the FPN may be withdrawn. They are tempted to pay as they wish to avoid the hassle, however I would rather they didnt for three reasons - one being the principle of it, two being that I am worried it may go against me if they pay, and three being that I do not trust the police to enforce this legislation correctly and I do not wish for my pal to get issued another FPN erroneously and it then cost £400 due to the way the fine structure is set up.

I have a few specific questions with regards to this. The only complaints mechanism I can see is on the met police website. It advises that complaints if possible should go to the specific police station for the relevant officer, however the FPN paperwork does not list any details regarding the officer aside from their last name. There is no badge number, no station, etc etc. Is there any way I can find out this information? Beyond this, there are only a few days left to pay the fine at the reduced rate and I highly doubt the complaint will be dealt with in good time. If they are to pay the PCN at the reduced rate I assume they are forgoing their right to later appeal? Is there a more direct way to appeal without knowing the specific issuing station or officer?

We do not wish to take this to court ideally, both because of the amount of time it will take and because of the fact that the potential consequences are far higher. I am assuming it is just a matter of time before my FPN reaches me, although I do think the officer who dealt with me may have decided it wasnt worth the hassle based on the interaction I had with her. Either way I want to help my mate out and prepare to act if mine does arrive.

On another note, its now been more than a month since the original offence. Would still like to know if there is any time limit on how long ACRO have to serve the FPN - the officer told me within 14 days but that seems to have been thrown completely out the water.

Elysium

13,756 posts

186 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
Has the other person seen this?

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/yor...

If the facts of this are as described, that you simply met a friend for a walk 3 miles from your home, then no law has been broken.

I would refuse the fixed penalty and wait for a court case.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
OP, PM me and I will see if I can assist pro bono. From your initial description, you did not commit an offence. It may be that some sensible and polite letter writing will be enough to have your friend's FPN, and any eventually issued to you, binned.

Gooly

Original Poster:

965 posts

147 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
OP, PM me and I will see if I can assist pro bono. From your initial description, you did not commit an offence. It may be that some sensible and polite letter writing will be enough to have your friend's FPN, and any eventually issued to you, binned.
Thank you for the kind offer - I will send you a PM

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
quotequote all
Gooly said:


...
The officer said to me, charmingly, that she had earlier given a ticket to a lady who had not left her house for 6 weeks, and had travelled to Trafalger Square to walk around and take photos.

...
Did you get the officer's name and number? If your report of the officer's comment is accurate, and the officer had indeed done as she claimed, then her conduct may be an appropriate basis for a complaint. Regrettably, some (not all) police officers appear to have allowed the pandemic to bring out some very bad instincts.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 1st April 14:31