My brother in law is a self employed builder. Got lots of work on that does not need anybody else or input from property owners. Got a visit from the police, they checked he was working on his own and were perfectly happy. Totally logical. He's not claiming any support.

What Steve is saying sounds perfectly sensible to me – it's low risk, except perhaps when he has to refuel his car! But all the Guidelines apply and Number 4 says something important. It includes:

Employers and employees should discuss their working arrangements, and employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home, including providing suitable IT and equipment to enable remote working.

'Every possible step' needs thinking about. Steve could be challenged to list everything he's done to facilitate working from home rather than travelling as normal to his workshop. Best to have a reasonable answer ready, perhaps with examples of what's been done to reduce travel. For example, it might be possible to reduce the number of workshop visits by spending one day a week doing paperwork or any other task that can be done at home.

A friend of my nephew was fined £60 yesterday (£30 if paid within 14 days). On arrival at a supermarket a policeman asked if his visit was essential. "Of course it is" the young man said, "how dare they!" On the way out Jack-the-Lad was stopped again and his purchase inspected. What vital essentials were in his carrier bag? 3 cans of Budweiser and a bag of crisps…

Yes the lock-down is inconvenient, but the tighter the clamp the safer we are.

Dave

Ive been giver a letter from my employer and also told to show my pass as well if I get stopped. But, the company guidance also says that this may not be enough so I have asked what do I do if I get stopped and told to go home? Still waiting on an answer.

Obviously I will be going home if told to but what do you do on the next day you have to go to work? Take the risk of getting stopped again by the same person? I dont think it would go down well.

Hopefully the police will take the view that the covering letter is enough to justify me going to work.

There is NO restrictions on who can work and the Police are ignorant of the guidelines if they think only essential workers are allowed to work.

The guidelines clearly state:- work from home if possible. If this is not possible you may travel to work but must observe the two metre rule.

I am still working as I am a lone worker, I have my own workshops and no one else is near me.

If the Police try to stop me from working I will be seeing them in court seeking compensation as I am not entitled to any help from the government!

Edited By vintage engineer on 10/04/2020 10:42:49

And some want extra powers apparently. Things seem to get a bit 'Gene Hunt' quite quickly.

There is always an element of folk trying to push their powers too far. If gov wanted limited essential items only to be sold then they would instruct supermarkets accordingly. Off-licences can trade as 'essential' so anyone stopping a fellow for buying a few cans of beer is overstepping.

One persons essential is another persons trivia as well as the moral, ethical, religeous and medical variations in dietary requirements. This lockdown should be a measured response not a need to go grubbing around in the hedgerows although the wild garlic leaves are good at the moment.

pgk

Sounds similar to the situation here in Oz. Poorly worded rushed legislation. Then contradictory daily statements by the state political leaders. Then police told to use their discretion. Which appears to range from blatant indifference through overzealous jobsworthery to outright jackbootery.

That's the problem with living in a police state. Which we have become. Overnight. Because there is a particularly nasty flu going around.