Police officer tells dad he can’t play with his kids in his own front garden

The police officer (left) told Mr Connell he and his kids (right) would need to stay indoors
Daniel Connell

A young dad was left baffled after a police officer told him he couldn’t go out into his own front garden with his kids.

Footage share on social media showed the confrontation between Daniel Connell and the South Yorkshire Police officer at his doorstep in Rotherham.

In the clip, filmed by Mr Connell but later removed, the officer told the father-of-two: "You cannot come into your front garden.”

When he and one of his children started to protest, she continued: "When you look around and there's nobody out, it's because you can't come out here.”

She then argued: "It's not me, it's the Government. The virus does not stop on your fence. 1,000 people died yesterday.

"I'm asking you to go indoors. Are you refusing to go indoors?"

Mr Connell told the Standard his family were confused by the encounter after receiving mixed messages from police in the area.

“The day before, the same officer told my partner to get in the house, while on the same day a different officer delivering leaflets simply asked if we were enjoying the sunshine,” he explained.

He subsequently contacted South Yorkshire police, who sent him a text which read: “Current guidelines from the government allow for the use of your gardens, both front and back.

“If your garden has a road or a path running along it then beware of social distancing if there is likely to be people passing by on foot - please use common sense.”

The force also apologised for the officer’s handling of the incident.

They told him: “This encounter was well-intentioned but ill-informed and we'd like to apologise for the way it was handled.

"We've spoken to the officer concerned and made our approach absolutely clear.

"Again, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and will continue our work to support the NHS."

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