Health and safety police?

[chumpit]

Ok a little back history,
I've taken the week off as my holiday (perfect timing), so i decide to go to the brecon beacons.
I park up in in the car park at the bottom trail to the top of Pen y fan and i swear within minutes i'm practically accusted by two coppers and a mountain rescue man. Who demand to see my equipment, the resoning is to stop people entering moor land with poor equipment. I whole heartedly agree with this, but to day was a cloudless sky. When i climbed in the snow this spring their was know one their to even check, and i saw people climbing with just a bottle of water....

Any ways has anyone else been molestered by the new health and safty nutters?

 

[Vonhelmet]

They're just covering their back against idiots who'll fall and break their ankle and try to sue for a billion pounds.

 

[J.B]

Probably trying to save themselves a lot of time and money by not mounting a rescue and maybe teach some people about being prepared along the way.

 

[chumpit]

They're just covering their back against idiots who'll fall and break their ankle and try to sue for a billion pounds.

mmm probaly, but i cant seee who they could sue. Surely they'd be proofed with poor equipment.

Probably trying to save themselves a lot of time and money by not mounting a rescue and maybe teach some people about being prepared along the way.

i would agree , but the police cannot actually stop you entering the moor land just advise you.

what im trying to get at is, today is a beautifull day with a good weather outlook, all you need is basic gear and atleast 3 litres of water, when it was a average of 2 foot of snow and -10 due to wind chill their was no one their. This happens a lot on snowden, people with out experiance or gear climbing in poor weather, yet no checks. but on a decent day the coppers are out in force.

Before people come out with, i'm must have poor gear.
I am a fullly trained mountain leader, with very decent gear. it cost me a fair amount

 

[Burnsy2023]

what im trying to get at is, today is a beautifull day with a good weather outlook, all you need is basic gear and atleast 3 litres of water, when it was a average of 2 foot of snow and -10 due to wind chill their was no one their. This happens a lot on snowden, people with out experiance or gear climbing in poor weather, yet no checks. but on a decent day the coppers are out in force.

You're forgetting that when the weather is good the idiots come out in droves. They're less likely to brave -10 conditions

 

[No1newts]

You're forgetting that when the weather is good the idiots come out in droves. They're less likely to brave -10 conditions

No no, what you are forgetting is that the only time the cops bother their arse to do some patrols and actually get out on the streets (mountains in this case) is when their is the added benefit of getting a tan.

Otherwise they sit back and let the world go to hell whilst making sure that no one speeds!! Whilst they pass the murders and rapes going on at the sides of the roads

 

[chumpit]

No no, what you are forgetting is that the only time the cops bother their arse to do some patrols and actually get out on the streets (mountains in this case) is when their is the added benefit of getting a tan.

Otherwise they sit back and let the world go to hell whilst making sure that no one speeds!! Whilst they pass the murders and rapes going on at the sides of the roads

.....


I know a few copper's and they love to patrol, only problem is they are forced to cover such a wide range of role's and are so understaffed they can only do a few.

I my self have lodged a complaint with two local schools, who fought that taking kids on to a mountain in september with trainers and a water proof jacket and a single bottle of water was a good idea.

 

[yak.h'cir]

The police are responsible for setting in motion mountain rescues so that is why they're involved in helping warn people of the risks (If you get in trouble in the mountains dial 999 and ask for police). That is why they're involved with giving out good safety advice/checking people were prepared.

So many people have the attitude that because it's a cloudless sky that nothing could possible happen etc and decide to climb a mountain in their flip flops and then expect an entire mountain rescue team to come out and rescue them when something inevitably goes wrong. I'm surprised that someone with ML training wouldn't understand this better, maybe something to think about before you go for assessment.

Far from being heath and safety nutters this sounds like a great service they're providing, far too many people are ignorant of the risks these days.

 

[chumpit]

The police are responsible for setting in motion mountain rescues so that is why they're involved in helping warn people of the risks (If you get in trouble in the mountains dial 999 and ask for police). That is why they're involved with giving out good safety advice/checking people were prepared.

So many people have the attitude that because it's a cloudless sky that nothing could possible happen etc and decide to climb a mountain in their flip flops and then expect an entire mountain rescue team to come out and rescue them when something inevitably goes wrong. I'm surprised that someone with ML training wouldn't understand this better, maybe something to think about before you go for assessment.

Far from being heath and safety nutters this sounds like a great service they're providing, far too many people are ignorant of the risks these days.

actually i phone the direct number and i have my full certifcate, plus a volunteer for the local search and rescue team, hence how i knew the guy.

And yes i have seen people try to climb in flip flops.
What im saying is their this halve and halve work does nothing to help people.
Unless they go out to ban or fine people who put their lifes in risk with **** poor equipment.

I was mainly annoyed at having to remove all my gear which i had perfectly balanced.

but if they wish to stop the stupid call oput to rescue people they should start imposing fines for carrying poor equipment.

 

[deuse]

You're forgetting that when the weather is good the idiots come out in droves. They're less likely to brave -10 conditions

Don't talk about the police like that

 

[-BA-]

Whilst most of the above posts touch on the reasons the main reason is without doubt that moorland and mountain regions can see 4 seasons of weather in a 2 hour period. Going unprepared on a nice sunny day could leave you in a life threatening situation 3 hours into your walk.

People turn on the tv, watch a generic weather forecast that says, "Oooh it's going to be lovely today but...." Too late they are out of the door, with 2 cans of coke from the fridge and a half charged mobile phone.

Health & safety gone mad? Sadly no it's common sense gone west and the emergency services are left to carry the very expensive can.

 

[yak.h'cir]

actually i phone the direct number and i have my full certifcate, plus a volunteer for the local search and rescue team, hence how i knew the guy.

The direct number is 999 since it's the police who organise the rescues. I suppose if you have a mate then he'll come out to help you but if it's something serious I'd go straight to the top of the chain.

Out of interest when you say you have your full certificate what are you referring to?

And yes i have seen people try to climb in flip flops.
What im saying is their this halve and halve work does nothing to help people.
Unless they go out to ban or fine people who put their lifes in risk with **** poor equipment.

I see some merit in that idea but I don't think it would work + the idea of people going around issuing fines on the mountain doesn't sit very well with me. I quite like the current situation where on days which are likely to see a number of inexperienced people on the hill that there are people around to give a bit of advice etc.

I was mainly annoyed at having to remove all my gear which i had perfectly balanced.

but if they wish to stop the stupid call oput to rescue people they should start imposing fines for carrying poor equipment.

I suppose I would have been a bit miffed about that too. You think they could just have a quick chat and ask what you've got on you, it shouldn't be too difficult to work out if someones a liability or not and if they are they can be advised of what they should have with them.

I think fining people for not carrying the right equipment is a too harsh though. We need to be doing more to encourage people to get out on the hill more and issuing threats/fines isn't the way.

 

[chumpit]

Im not saying its health and saftey gone mad,What im saying is its health and safety half arsed.
if thier not gonna put some force of prevention and do it at periods of time when thier is a proper threat from the weather, anyone with local knowledge would know their was little threat from the weather.


on note my gps logged the min max temperature as 15c / 26c
not exactly threatening.

 

[chumpit]

The direct number is 999 since it's the police who organise the rescues. I suppose if you have a mate then he'll come out to help you but if it's something serious I'd go straight to the top of the chain.

actually in brecon beacons grp the cops phone the sar team with the job, they then work with the police and accesss what is nesscary, but this may change as from area to area.

 

[RDM]

And yes i have seen people try to climb in flip flops.
What im saying is their this halve and halve work does nothing to help people.
Unless they go out to ban or fine people who put their lifes in risk with **** poor equipment.

I would rather not give the police the power to stop me doing something perfectly legal even if it is stupid.

I was mainly annoyed at having to remove all my gear which i had perfectly balanced.

You probably didn't have to. You could have said "No, I would rather not unpack my gear, but I have all that I need." and listed the stuff you have. As far as I am aware they had no legal right to enforce a search.

but if they wish to stop the stupid call oput to rescue people they should start imposing fines for carrying poor equipment.

God no. If you are going to go down that route at least just restrict the fines to those that get in to trouble for carrying poor equipment and have to use the service rather than giving the police yet more stop/search and fine powers.

 

[yak.h'cir]

actually in brecon beacons grp the cops phone the sar team with the job, they then work with the police and accesss what is nesscary, but this may change as from area to area.

Mountain Rescue teams can only be called on the authority of the police. A call is normally initiated by the local force in response to a 999 call or the report of a missing person.

http://www.breconmrt.co.uk/callouts.html

 

[chumpit]

http://www.breconmrt.co.uk/callouts.html

yeah, the cops call them out. but memebers can initiate a sar mission.
i.e if a member of the team on a climb can direct contact the call room.

 

[8balled]

They're just protecting themselves in case a muslim trips and hurts themselves on a burkha, so they dont seem racist they question everyone.
[/dailymail]

 

[beh]

I was mainly annoyed at having to remove all my gear which i had perfectly balanced.

Were they doing this in an official capacity? Were they actually policemen? And even if, you'd be well within your rights to tell them to **** off. Not something I've ever encountered when out on the hills.

but if they wish to stop the stupid call oput to rescue people they should start imposing fines for carrying poor equipment.

No, they shouldn't.

 

[yak.h'cir]

Im not saying its health and saftey gone mad,What im saying is its health and safety half arsed.
if thier not gonna put some force of prevention and do it at periods of time when thier is a proper threat from the weather, anyone with local knowledge would know their was little threat from the weather.


on note my gps logged the min max temperature as 15c / 26c
not exactly threatening.

If you're experienced you should know that even the most perfect day can quickly change on you in the mountains. Not to mention the number of things that can easily go wrong in good weather! Also you are aware that GPS stands for global positioning system and is not a brand of thermometer! I wouldn't have normally commented on something like that but you're claiming to be ML or MIA etc!