Derbyshire police issue plea: Stay away from the Peak District

Both Derbyshire Police, local Police teams and Edale Mountain Rescue team have issued a loud message to visitors: Stay home, stay away, the Peak District is closed to visitors.

Despite instruction from the Government to all but key workers and those who cannot work from home to stay at home, take 1 hours exercise each day and maintain a safe social distance of at least 2 metres, this message is still being ignored by some.

A spokesperson from Derbyshire Constabulary used Facebook to get the message across:

“We have been dismayed over recent days at the number of people out and about within the Peak District. Groups of people walking , riding, running who have clearly travelled some distance to be here and are effectively “carrying on as normal”.  The number of households containing 4 people with bikes has surprised us given the number of cars seen with people and bikes in.

“People should exercise safely and locally and not carry on with their adventures as normal.  On various activity forums comments have been made of “we always go out there”, “we are always careful”, “ I have never had an accident”.

“Most, if not all people who Mountain Rescue Teams assist are always careful and 99.9%  have never been rescued before.  Yet Peak District teams still get called out over 300 times a year.”

If you have an accident in the current Covid 19 outbreak, please remember this;

• Your rescue can not be guaranteed and if it is, it may not be as quick a response as normal
• Assuming you do get a response, you will be putting at least 12 team members at potential risk from Covid 19
• You will be putting at least 12 team members families at risk from Covid 19
• You will be putting the ambulance service staff at additional risk from Covid 19
• You will be taking up an ambulance resource that will be required elsewhere
• When you eventually get treated at hospital which may take some time due to the current crisis you will be taking up resource and you will be putting NHS staff at additional risk.
• If it is a serious accident you may not get to see your loved ones for some time as you may end up isolated.

“The Peak District countryside and hills will still be here when this crisis passes.  The grass may even be little greener and the tracks and trails a little narrower and less muddy. Please STAY AT HOME, PROTECT THE NHS, SAVE LIVES