The United Kingdom’s National Police Chief’s Council has published new guidance on what constitutes a “reasonable excuse” to leave your residence during the current novel coronavirus lockdown. You can download a copy from:
https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf
Of particular interest to me as a “silver surfer” is the part that states:
Exercise can come in many forms, including walks.
Exercise must involve some movement, but it is acceptable for a person to stop for a break in exercise.
It is lawful to drive for exercise.
Whilst surfing is not explicitly mentioned in the new document the current Police Commander for Cornwall has previously issued guidance on that form of exercise for the county:
According to “Cornwall’s top cop” before the new guidance was published:
Police BCU Commander for Cornwall, Temporary Chief Superintendant Ian Drummond-Smith said the recent guidance from the London-based National Police Chiefs Council was consistent with what his officers were doing on the ground but he reiterated that the public should not try and take advantage of the guidance.
He said: “Surfing has not been banned. It’s exercise and in Cornwall we know it’s a popular exercise. People can still surf. The question of driving a reasonable distance as per the NPCC guidelines, is ‘how far is reasonable’.
“The NPCC guidelines does not say whether you can or cannot drive to do your exercise. I am telling my officers people can surf and some may well drive to surf.”
Now all we denizens of the North Coast need to do is wait for the swell to be onshore and the wind to be offshore once again.
And to stay well over 2 meters away from anybody else with the same idea at the same time at the same beach!
