What is essential Shopping: Just re... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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What is essential Shopping

Prada47 profile image
27 Replies

Just re listened to the Police Constable of Northants " if need be we will check your shopping to make sure you are buying essentials only". I am worried for my wife she may be locked up I asked her to get me a 6 pack of 6 X then again !!!

Stay Well

Stay Safe

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Prada47 profile image
Prada47
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27 Replies
Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

It was chilling to hear him say that yesterday and I don't think the U-turn was sincere (after the HS and the head of police both said he was overstepping to claim he could and would do such a thing).

I kept thinking 'Define 'legitimate and essential shopping' (his words when he threatened to check shopping) - one man's luxury is another's essential especially when the trip to the supermarket is being used as the exercise and 'essentials' shopping once daily.

I am having a little trouble about the roadblock threat as well although certainly less than the shopping bag check one. There have been an unacceptable lot of 'holiday homers' thinking they can jolly off to that second home - and thereby risk the locals and infrastructure.

But that shopping thing has me thinking that's one copper in need of an attitude adjustment, and apparently he's not the only law enforcement official wanting to clap fines and gaol on people they think are somehow flouting the rules.

When this all began we heard about shoppers being shamed for buying chocolate Easter eggs...two days ago a young woman was issued £30 down in Edinburgh. Her crime? Her shopping bag contained a bottle of wine, some crisps, and some small nibbles.

S11m profile image
S11m in reply to Sunnie2day

¿Anything you can eat or drink is “food”?

“Yes, officer, the wine and flowers are essential - my wife would not let me in the house without them.”

skid112 profile image
skid112Heart Star

Morning,

Input from Spain, local police, with the assistance of tha national police and now the army, have set up roadblocks on all major roads in and out of cities. There are roadblocks on main roads between towns and villages as well. To pass you need to be on an essential trip, pharmacy, food shopping, either for yourself or an at risk person. Only one person in the car, you just carry your ID, proof of address and if you work in an essential area, a letter from your employer or lawyer.

They do turn you back if you go from town to town shopping, you are supposed to shop local, unless you cannot obtain an item of necessity, gluten free for example. Your car is subject to search, both ways. So saying 'I'm going to so and so for gluten free' then not having such item in your shopping is an instant 600 euro fine.

Even though the issue of masks here is contentious, you should carry some sort of face covering, failure to do so will usually result in no entry. There is an ongoing organisational effort to supply facemasks to all town halls for distribution to all citizens, thus, in my opinion, is the first step to a gradual ease of the restrictions.

The police here tend to be a little, err, firmer, with miscreants. YouTube and the internet carry many such instances of the police carrying out their, unenviable, tasks with 'take no prisoners' attitude. Including one of running over a chap brandishing two samurai swords, another of using their night sticks on a bicyclist disobeying their order to stop.

12345bob profile image
12345bob in reply to skid112

Maybe that’s what some of the moronic halfwits in this country need!

Boudica1 profile image
Boudica1 in reply to skid112

I've lived on Lanzarote for a number of years and I know that the local police and the Guardia Civil are not as soft on anyone who is thought to be breaking the rules.

Some of the things I've seen leaves some law breakers going to the hospital in handcuffs at best black and blue. Plus anyone caught burglaring a home is at risk of a beating if not by the home owner then the police.

Harsh for those who have never lived there to understand but normal there and anyone who lives there and breaks the law know exactly what can happen to them.

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to skid112

I think Spain does OK seeing so Franco has only been dead about 45 years. It used to be Horse and Cart for a long time after that. when we went to Mijas around 40 years ago it was still donkeys being the locals mode of transport. Now it's tourists !!!

Stay Well Mark

Nathan53 profile image
Nathan53

I think he was meaning pork pies, cheese pasty, Easter eggs then you can say goodbye to your six pack.

Stay safe

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to Nathan53

Hi Nathan

My 6 pack comes in cans lol

Stay Safe

Stay Well

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to Prada47

My OH has just come back from Every Little Helps and said they didn't have a 6 pack so I got you 2X4 No wonder I married this woman 52 years ago lol

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to Nathan53

Will you stop mentioning Pork Pies I wouldn't kill for much but a Pork Pie well maybe !!

Stay Well

Stay Safe

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to Prada47

I miss pasties. Oh how I miss pasties!

Prada47 profile image
Prada47

Question

What does a Supermarket sell that is not essential to someone ??

I told my wife should she get stopped purchasing my Beer or Wine ( should she fancy a bottle ). Just tell the Police your husband is a alcoholic and it is an essential item !!

Statex profile image
Statex

There is nothing in law that states what you can shop for or how many times you go out for exercise. This virus seems to have brought out the little dictator in some power hungry people. Should any one be challenged it would be up to the courts to decide.

In reply to Boudica1 .I like the idea of burglars receiving rough justice by the victim and the police in America you can shoot any burglar if they place one foot inside your house. Criminals are allowed to enter your home in the UK and if you dare wack them they can sue you.

I cant believe they are even thinking of doing that . I wouldn't go near a pizza or pork pie if you paid me. You cant seem to buy essentials anyway.

in reply to

Hmmm, what about a delicious chocolate cake ?

Nathan53 profile image
Nathan53 in reply to

Red velvet cake mmmm. Just ordered a simnel cake and treats for family from Betty's,Yorkshire based Tea Rms for you Southerners ridiculous price but what else can I spend my money on. I blame Prada for my lapsed healthy eating. Today's lunch was a sausage casserole with cannellini beans pepper onions etc and mash. Still worked in garden painting fence so that will have burned off some calories

in reply to

Did someone say chocolate?

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to

Sorry imagination

IanGordon profile image
IanGordon

The Government requirement is to stay at home to reduce transmission. Of course shopping is essential and common sense says that on your trip to the supermarket if you put some plants and potting compost in with your eggs, tinned tomatoes, rice pasta, sanitiser and loo rolls (lol) that's acceptable.

Popping out for those same plants and compost alone , is not. It's an additional unnecessary journey which exposes, you, your family and society to an additional transmission opportunity. And a very real danger of death.

Yet there are some out there who still don't get it.

Stay safe, stay well, live long

russino1 profile image
russino1

If a shop is open (allowed to be!) them anything they sell is acceptable to buy.

Police are over reaching themselves in many circumstances.

They should be careful as they will lose public trust.

Good job they didn't stop me last night then.I had vodka,gin,wine and two kebabs in the car.What a night.

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to

Was that in the Virtual Café or for Real LOL

Stay safe

Stay well

Stay Sober !!!

Very real.After this corona virus is finished I will either be very fit or a raging alcoholic

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to

Nothing wrong with either lol

Swageblock profile image
Swageblock in reply to Prada47

Hate to piss on your fireworks but heavy drinking/alcohol dependency was the main contributing factor to my having a cardiac arrest, 2 months in ICU,another 5 weeks in hospital and off work for 12 months. I'm now about 80% fit and have been dry for 5 years. So have a drink or 3,but don't be stupid like I was !!

MattUK profile image
MattUK

The police can’t stop you buying anything legal, period. If the shops open you can shop in it.

The police need to back off

in reply to MattUK

Er I think you’ll find they can

gov.uk/government/news/poli...

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