Police promise Northamptonshire's Easter eggs are safe during Covid-19 lockdown

'It's not our job to patrol supermarkets or examine what's in people's trolleys'
Northamptonshire supermarkets can carry on selling Easter eggsNorthamptonshire supermarkets can carry on selling Easter eggs
Northamptonshire supermarkets can carry on selling Easter eggs

Northamptonshire Police say they will not crack down on buying Easter eggs during the coronavirus lockdown.

The force's switchboard has been swamped by calls querying what people can and cannot do following Prime Minister Boris Johnson's order to stay at home to slow the spread of the Covid-19 bug.

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Chief Constable Nick Adderley and two of his senior officers hosted a Facebook event in an attempt to bust some of the myths flying around.

Supt Elliot FoskettSupt Elliot Foskett
Supt Elliot Foskett

And they revealed one question posed by public has been about buying Easter eggs during the lockdown when shopping trips are supposed to be for essential items only.

Superintendent Elliot Foskett said: "People are doing their essential shopping and if they're buying Easter eggs while they are out, then we're not going to confiscate them.

"I get why people would ask the question. You are going out shopping for essential items and Easter eggs may not be seen as an essential item.

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"We'e not telling shops to stop selling Easter eggs and we're not going to be inspecting your basket or trolley for Easter eggs. That's not going to happen."

Mr Adderley added: "There is nothing funny about this at all because I know it's a rumour that has been going around for quite a while.

"If anybody is stopped by a member of my staff and has their trolley examined and they are questioned over the necessity of creme eggs or Easter eggs, write to me personally and I will deal with that.

"It's not our job to patrol supermarkets or act as marshals.

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"If there are incidents of disorder or breach of the peace we will respond to that but we're not going to put officers on the doors of supermarkets."

Daily exercise has also become a hot topic in the county with calls to police reporting people for going out on runs more than once a day.

That prompted fears among long-distance runners over the possibility of being fined or arrested for going out too long.

But Mr Adderley said: "This is all about applying common sense

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"These laws are here for your protection and if you are blatantly flouting them then chances are you are going to get stopped sometime in the future.

"But this is not about avoiding police or getting one up on us — this is about what are you doing to protect you and your family.

"There is a lot of confusion out there. What we're trying to do is ask people to exercise caution and common sense.

"This is a really deadly disease. Think it through."

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