Coronavirus: Shopper trying to buy hot tub is stopped by police for flouting COVID-19 guidance
A shopper has been caught flouting coronavirus restrictions by police while trying to buy a hot tub.
Police said they saw the man attempting to go into a shop at Eastern Avenue Retail Park in the city of Gloucester, Gloucestershire, on Monday morning.
The man was asked why he was out shopping while social distancing restrictions are in place and told police he wanted to buy a hot tub.
Police said they told him to return to his home.
Officers have just stopped someone trying to enter a shop in #Gloucester.
When asked what the purpose of their visit was the Officers were told "To Buy A Hot Tub!!" .
The person was swiftly told to go home.
Please #StayAtHome . pic.twitter.com/fOvcRlE6Ww— Glos City Police - #StayHomeSaveLives (@GlosCityPolice) April 6, 2020
The government has told the public they can only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if they cannot work from home).
It said on Monday it had no plans to tighten restrictions despite a number of people flouting the official advice.
On Monday morning, Gloucester City Community Policing team tweeted that officers had just stopped someone trying to enter a shop.
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“When asked what the purpose of their visit was the Officers were told ‘To Buy A Hot Tub!!’,” the account tweeted.
“The person was swiftly told to go home,” it added.
Family take 122-mile round trip to beach
Meanwhile, a council in Kent said a family travelled 122 miles in their car at the weekend just to visit the beach.
Folkestone and Hythe District Council said the family made a two-hour and 20 minute round trip from London to the Kent coast on Saturday.
Watch the video below
They made the journey from Bromley in south-east London to Folkestone.
They were given a warning by the council and their information was passed on to police.
In a Facebook post, Folkestone and Hythe District Council said: “This is not a public holiday - it’s a global pandemic.
“It’s disappointing we’ve had to issue a large number of warnings today to those who refused to stay at home without justifiable reason.
“One family travelled from as far as Bromley just to visit the beach.
“The spread of Covid-19 risks the health of our community - friends, family, and key workers such as NHS staff.”
A day later, on Sunday, the council said: “Unfortunately a number of day-trippers from outside the county have been visiting our beauty spots again today. Warnings have been issued to those people.
“This isn’t something we thought we would ever say - but please don’t come to our district right now.
“We look forward to welcoming you all back soon.”
On Saturday evening, Newham Police tweeted that officers had broken up an 18th birthday party in east London that was attended by 25 people.
After a day of stop and search and foot chases, Newham’s NTT have been called to clear a house party in Central Park Road. This family thought law relating to social distancing shouldn’t apply to 18th birthday parties. 25 guests moved on. pic.twitter.com/Bo5k7eumhE
— Newham MPS | North East BCU (@MPSNewham) April 4, 2020
“This family thought law relating to social distancing shouldn’t apply to 18th birthday parties,” the force tweeted.
The government advises people to stay at home and not to meet others, even friends or family.
