Police issue list of 'reasonable excuses' to leave home including buying alcohol

With lockdown extended for another three weeks, police have issued new rules for venturing outside.

People can go out to buy alcohol, take an animal to the vet or stop to have a rest while on a walk during coronavirus lockdown.

Police chiefs have issued updated guidelines on what counts as a "reasonable excuse" to leave the home.

Now police have said purchasing tools to fix a fence damaged in bad weather or moving to a friend's address for a cooling-off period "following arguments at home" all count as reasons to be out the house.

However, the list - issued by the National Police Chief's Council and College of Policing [NPCC] - says popping to the shops to buy buy paint and brushes to redecorate the kitchen is not a valid excuse, The Mirror reports.

The NPCC said the list will help officers interpret the advice from the government.

You won't stopped from browsing the "non-essential" aisles on the weekly shop (PA)

Shopping - What you can do:  

• Buy several days' worth of food, including luxury items and alcohol
 
• Buy a small amount of a staple item or necessity (for example a newspaper, pet food, a loaf of bread or pint of milk)
 
• Collect surplus basic food items from a friend
 
• Buy tools and supplies to repair a fence panel damaged in bad weather

If you're out on your weekly shop, you won't stopped from browsing the "non-essential" aisles.

The document adds that people have a reason to visit shops as long as they're open so it's not appropriate to stop them purchasing items considered to be "non-essentials".

Popping out for paint isn't good reason to leave the house according to police chiefs (PA)

Shopping - What you can't do:  

• Police say it is not reasonable to pop out for DIY supplies so you can do up your kitchen, for example.

Exercise - What is allowed:  

• Going for a run or cycle, practising yoga, walking in the countryside or in cities or attending an allotment
 
• Driving to countryside and walking (where far more time is spent walking than driving)
 
• Stopping to rest or to eat lunch while on a long walk
 
• In some circumstances, exercising more than once per day

Police say exercise "must involve some movement" (PA)

Exercise - What isn't allowed:       

• Driving for a prolonged period with only brief exercise
• A short walk to a park bench, when the person remains seated for a much longer period

Sunbathing in parks is not permitted, but taking a rest during a workout outdoors is permitted

Police say exercise "must involve some movement".

Work - What you can do:

• Key workers or other essential workers can travel to work where it is not reasonably possible to work from home
 
• Some non-key workers or non-essential key-workers can travel to work where it is not reasonably possible to work from home
 
• Deliver food packages to vulnerable people.

Work - What you cannot do:

• People who can work from home choosing to work in a local park
 
• Knock on doors offering to do cash in-hand work

The government has clarified who counts as a key worker and is allowed to travel to work or bring their children to school during the day.

However, some non-key workers have been allowed to travel if they are unable to work from home or if their employer requires them to come in.

The guidelines also states that you cannot work from local gardens or parks while working from home.

Other reasons to leave home - What you can do:  

• Go to the vet for essential treatment
 
• Move to a friend's address for several days to allow a "cooling-off" following arguments at home
 
• Provide support to vulnerable people.

What you cannot do:  

• Visit a vet surgery in person to renew a prescription (where this could be done over the phone)
 
• Visiting a friend in their address or meeting in public to socialise

For all coronavirus updated follow our live blog.