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Shoppers are claiming they have been fined by police for leaving the house to buy items considered 'non-essential' - including wine and snacks.

Since the UK went into lockdown on March 23, rules have restricted freedom of movement, with just a handful of exceptions including the allowance of one form of outdoor exercise a day.

The announcement also permitted people to leave the house to shop for 'basic necessities' - but the rules seems to have caused some confusion with no clear guidelines on what is considered to be a 'basic necessity', as reported by Edinburgh Live.

Those breaking the conditions were warned that police would have the power to enforce the measures through fines and dispersing gatherings.

One shopper has said she was fined £30 after her shopping bags were checked, telling Edinburgh Live: "I was walking through Holyrood Park (in Edinburgh) on Sunday afternoon on my way back from Morrisons. Two officers asked to look inside my bag, and then fined me for only having crisps, other snacks and a bottle of wine."

(Image: Edinburgh Live WS)

However, it was reported she had also admitted to refuse to comply with the officers' requests to return home straight away.

Police Scotland said it was unable to verify the claims, and that the force is focusing on non-essential travel rather than than the specific items shoppers are buying.

It added: "Our focus has so far been engagement and education, with enforcement a last resort."

In a briefing, Chief Constable of Police Scotland Iain Livingstone said: "Since the emergency powers came into effect two weeks ago, we have been required to take enforcement action in limited situations. Thus far, across the whole of the country, we have issued over 500 fixed penalty notices.

"This has typically been during incidents where people do not comply with legal instructions even after being spoken to by officers."

A resident from West Lothian tweeted to say they knew two people who had been fined; a nurse in uniform leaving a patient's house and another leaving a shop with just a bottle of wine.

A similar tweet stated: "A friend of my daughter was fined £30 on the spot in Edinburgh the other night having just bought wine and snacks, both of which are non-essential. Still seems a bit draconian to me."

Warrington Police force said a week after the lockdown was imposed six people in the area had already been summoned for offences relating to the new coronavirus legislation to protect the public.

It stated it included 'multiple people from the same household going to the shops for non-essential items', as well as others going for a drive due to boredom and returning from parties.

A different force tweeted to say it was disappointed to find people out buying compost and other garden items it deemed non-essential.