Police urge Basingstoke residents not to feed ducks and sunbathe during lockdown

With the start of the Easter holidays this weekend coinciding with an upturn in weather, authorities have been stressing the importance of resisting the urge to get outside.

Officers were on patrol in Basingstoke parks yesterday (Saturday) and have thanked the “large majority of people” who are sticking to the government guidelines and staying at home.

However, they have aired concerns over the number of people in Eastrop Park and War Memorial Park who were sunbathing and feeding the ducks.

When our reporter visited the parks yesterday, residents appeared to be acknowledging the rules - although a small number were seen feeding ducks.

The above pictures were taken yesterday but there is no insinuation that either group was spoken to by the police.

Officers have since reminded residents that feeding the ducks and sunbathing should not be classed as essential travel and are not valid reasons for leaving your home.

Menawhile, police in Sussex fined a pair for having a barbecue on the beach, and this morning Health Secretary Matt Hancock reiterated that sunbathing is "against the rules".

Basingstoke police say they will be out engaging with the public again today as they keep an eye on the situation.

A message shared on the Basingstoke Cops Facebook page read: “As the weather is going to be much better today, again we want to reiterate that you should only be leaving your home if it is absolutely essential to.

“Feeding ducks and sunbathing do not fall into essential bracket!”

“Officers will be out today engaging with members of the public and will be educating people, however we will be asking people to return home should they be found to not following these guidelines.

“Enforcement can be used if we believe it is appropriate at the time but we will always seek to encourage that person to return home first. Together as one big community we can beat this.”