Fines and/or jail time for those breaking lockdown

The UK lockdown is a joke. Sunny weather and people are just ignoring it and the police do nothing. Worse, police presence is non-existent. We live in the Scottish Borders and the road outside our house is packed with traffic including caravans 24/7, crowds of people going to the local nature reserve, cars parking up in our street all week to go for countryside walks, no social distancing in the local supermarket and people touching each other, coughing and sneezing.

Why are we not imposing heavier fines for rule flouters? Jail time, a court hearing or a heavy fine. First offence - a warning perhaps but after that, why should they get away with it?

This is why the average person is getting fed up being locked down. Because so many people are just continuing like this is a permanent bank holiday!

Why the contribution is important

Ensuring people take lockdown seriously and social distancing seriously means when we do come out of lockdown they are more likely to still follow guidelines. If they can't follow them now, what will it be like when pubs and restaurants reopen? We need to show lockdown flouters that we mean business - imposing a tiny fine doesnt do that. A big fine (say £1,000) is a deterrent but also repeat offenders could face jail time or a court hearing - if that doesn't deter them then nothing will.

by PB0307 on May 05, 2020 at 07:25PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 2.9
Based on: 34 votes

Comments

  • Posted by bancornvirus May 05, 2020 at 19:28

    I agree, should be locked up.

  • Posted by MBond999 May 05, 2020 at 19:31

    Tax Firms/Drivers especially in the Cumbernauld Area are flouting the rules. They are ferrying teenagers and certain groups of friends from house to house numerous times daily. I fear for the legitimate taxi users , and of course the health workers/carers that are also using these taxis. I have witnessed this happening many times and at no time time was the taxi cleaned or disinfected.
    Because of incidents like this I think that there will be a second more severe wave.

  • Posted by Stewartw May 05, 2020 at 19:32

    I totally agree with this. Most people are sticking to the rules but getting so fed up with many ignoring and nothing is done makes people give up

  • Posted by davidthomaswalsh May 05, 2020 at 19:32

    If people are flouting the rules and all the numbers and indicators are still going in the right direction then can we not correlate that actually the current lockdown measures are no longer needed and can start to be relaxed? Why can’t we trust people to follow the actual scientific guidelines and apply common sense rather than treat them like idiots and forcing them to stay at home?

  • Posted by StuartK May 05, 2020 at 19:36

    I agree that there is a hell of a lot of people bending or breaking the lockdown rules, including businesses. I think jail is unrealistic though.

  • Posted by PaulWG May 05, 2020 at 19:38

    No point increasing the penalty if there's no police to enforce it

  • Posted by alialiath May 05, 2020 at 19:41

    Totally agree . I've got a neighbour that has different visitors every day.

  • Posted by Sassysaltire May 05, 2020 at 19:51

     Neighbours state they following English government not Scottish government rules and breaking lockdown constantly with visitors staying over and going out constantly in car to shops and DIY stores no social distancing. Another neighbour works in care sector and has her daughter, her pal and step daughter openly in visiting. They also constantly shopping at DIY stores and shops and taking dog out in car halfway across town to go walks. Another Neighbour nearby flouting lockdown constantly with visitors coming and going in and out of their house, staying over also. It's depressing us and annoying that no action will be taken. It should have been made mandatory at the start.

  • Posted by Sky14 May 05, 2020 at 19:55

    The police don't want to enforce it, I've spoken to a few that say they are just to have a chat and educate them. The problem is you can't educate people like this they know better than everyone. The whole country know we are in lockdown so it's not good enough to have a chat they already know what they are doing and don't care they wouldn't change how they behave as it doesn't affect them!
    My neighbour has people round everyday and the police have been three times to have a chat but she continues to behave like there is no lockdown.
    Supermarkets are getting so busy and the poor staff are getting so much abuse.
    It would be a great world everyone did behave and have common sense but unfortunately a lot of people don't.

  • Posted by FinzeanDalziel May 05, 2020 at 20:16

    Police Scotland should fine those breaking the lockdown one months wages or at the very least a percentage of the monthly wage(50%) as this would be a good deterrent

    People are not following the lockdown

  • Posted by JWatsDoune May 05, 2020 at 22:06

    Completely agree. We should be following the Cypriot model

  • Posted by MrsBoggs May 06, 2020 at 23:52

    This is excessive. What is it about these rules that is making so many people so judgemental? These rules have removed some fundamental human rights. They were applied in haste, without a full understanding of the consequences and have been made up and tweaked as mistakes have been realised along the way. They are the result of panic.

    I don't envy the policy makers. They have a tremendous burden of responsibility on their heads right now, they are not perfect and they are making mistakes.

    Government modelled the results of their new policies with a rate of non-compliance in mind. We're not being threatened to comply and that's fine. It is good that so many have understood or accepted the critical nature of what they are trying to achieve and are sticking with the policies given. There are those who are defiant and will be of any law. But there are many who are suffering as a result of compliance and need a break.

    Let's be more forgiving, less judgemental and focus on the ultimate goal: which is to live and let live.

  • Posted by IrvingBulloch May 07, 2020 at 12:13

    I think the Scottish Governmemt should reinforce lockdown will remain and be enforced if voluntary isolation not observed.

  • Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 14:47

    I wish I could agree with davidthomaswalsh but the truth is that there is a significant minority of people who are not using any common sense and are putting others at risk on a daily basis. Most of us are not idiots but enough are that we need to enforce the rules on them. I think there should be a harsher penalty than there currently is, for repeat offenders at least.

  • Posted by Robert866 May 10, 2020 at 02:13

    Sounds like some exaggeration going on here. Most people are behaving sensibly. Caravans passing 24/7 doesn't seem likely to me. Jail time? Really? Get a grip.
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