A POLICE force has apologised after an officer told a family they couldn't use their front garden during the coronavirus lockdown.

The officer was filmed by Daniel Connell as she spoke to him at his doorstep, warning him to stay inside as the UK's Covid-19 shutdown continues.

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A police officer was filmed telling a resident he couldn't go into his front garden Credit: Twitter

The man argued with the officer as she spoke to him at his front door Credit: Twitter

The row is believed to have taken place in Eastwood, south Yorkshire, as forces around the country face questions over their policing of social distancing powers.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has urged police not to be "heavy-handed" while enforcing the lockdown over Easter weekend, with 26C temperatures set to make Good Friday the hottest day of the year so far.

Meanwhile, police are patrolling supermarket aisles today for "non-essential" shopping, despite a top cop's U-turn on his threat to search shopping trolleys.

POLICE ROW

During the exchange, the officer tells Mr Connell, who had been in the garden with his girlfriend and two children, they must stay indoors and they "cannot come in your front garden".

She warns the couple: "You do not want your children getting the virus, it does not stop in front of your garden."

Under social distancing guidelines, Brits must stay two metres apart from other people and avoid social gathering of more than two people.

But the government rules say "if you have a garden, make use of the space for exercise and fresh air".

As the row rumbles on, the officer then tells the couple: "You know when you look around and there's nobody out it's because you can't..."

Daniel Connell filmed the row from his front doorstep Credit: Facebook

He had been in the garden with his partner and two children Credit: Facebook

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But the pair interrupt her, with Mr Connell insisting: "There's not no-one out, go down the street they're all over the place."

The officer then tells them: "It's not me, it's the government" before adding "1,000 people died yesterday".

He then asks: "What do you do for your hour's exercise and stuff? adding "I spend my hour's exercise in the front garden".

When the officer asks if he is going indoors, he says "I'm going to the shop in a minute, I'm going to Aldi."

The cop then replies "You've already been to the shop once, I've seen you with two cans of pop."

But he insists he had to top up his gas and electric meter.

The officer then asks: "I'm asking you to go indoors, are you refusing to go indoors?"



'ILL-INFORMED'

As the officer walks away, he is heard saying: "Not allowed in your gardens, everyone."

South Yorkshire Police apologised on Twitter after the incident and said they had spoken to the officer.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman tweeted: "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 & will continue our work to support the NHS."

Meanwhile, cops were called out to over 1,000 reports of covidiots breaking lockdown rules with nearly 500 house parties across Greater Manchester last weekend.

Elsewhere around the UK, police have come under fire for overzealous enforcing of the rules.

In a now-deleted tweet, Cambridge Police said they patrolled a Tesco this morning and were pleased "non-essential aisles" were empty.

The tweet said: "Officers visited Tesco Barhill this morning as part of their patrols around supermarkets and green spaces this weekend.

"Good to see everyone was abiding by social distancing measures and the non essential aisles were empty."

Cambridge Police immediately came under scrunity as one person tweeted: "The law doesn’t forbid the purchase of non-essential items when also shopping for essentials such as food.

"Your officers time could be better spent, and over-stepping the law like this harms public confidence in the police."

SUPERMARKET SWEEP

Yesterday, a top cop threatened to check supermarket trolleys and block roads to crackdown on Brits flouting coronavirus lockdown rules.

Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley has said he will begin taking action within days as the three-week "grace period" is now over.

The officer has threatened to "marshal" supermarkets - including checking the items in baskets and trolleys to see if items are a "necessity.

He has also warned of implementing road blocks to stop Brits ignoring the government advice - and claimed forces are "damned if you do, damned if you don't" when it comes to policing the new rules.

But Ms Patel has rejected calls for tougher powers.

Responding to Mr Adderley's demands, she told TalkRadio: "That’s not appropriate.

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"That is not the guidance, that is not down to the measures we have been adopting thus far.

"That is not what the police are there to do.”

She added: "There is a balance to this. I do pay credit to the police, these are extraordinary times.”

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Police chiefs are now calling for laws to ban Brits from long road trips ahead of the four-day weekend.

In the Lake District, cops have re-diverted holidaymakers in campervans, while locals in St Ives, Cornwall, have blocked some roads to protect vulnerable residents.

And Devon and Cornwall Police have threatened to fine second home owners who flock to the area to enjoy the Easter weekend.