A third of Brits think police have gone too far in enforcing lockdown measures to stop the spread of coronavirus (Picture: Reuters)

A third of the British public think police have gone ‘too far’ in enforcing coronavirus lockdown measures in some cases, a survey suggests.

A poll by YouGov asked 1,664 adults for their views on how officers have handled new laws banning people from leaving their homes to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Under emergency coronavirus legislation, people can be fined or arrested if they don’t have an essential reason to be outside, such as going to work, the shops for food and medicine, or exercising once a day.

Over the weekend, police could be seen breaking up groups and patrolling parks as people flouted social distancing rules during a spate of good weather.


A woman is told to go home by a police officer enforcing lockdown (Picture: AP)

People have been flouting lockdown restrictions in the sunny weather (Picture: Rex)

The survey found that 42% of respondents fully support the approach taken by the police, but a further 32% felt they had gone too far in some cases.



There was wide spread support (72%) for police arresting someone who failed to comply with an instruction to return home, but the use of drone footage and facial recognition to capture people who are not adhering to lockdown rules was more controversial, with only half supporting those tactics.

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Crime and justice specialist Joe Caluori said the survey ‘underlines the challenge police forces have in striking a balance between effective enforcement of the lockdown’ as well as the need to maintain Britain’s model of policing by consent.

The survey comes after reports a number of police forces are being overzealous in their approach to the new powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown rules.

70% of Brits support people being arrested but a tird think officers have gone too far (Picture: AFP)

Warrington Police faced criticism for issuing court orders to people caught going on a drive due to ‘boredom’ or going to the shops for non-essential items.

Overnight 6 people have been summonsed for offences relating to the new corona virus legislation to protect the public:



These included;



Out for a drive due to boredom



Returning from parties



Multiple people from the same household going to the shops for non-essential items pic.twitter.com/FstjlfdEkD — Warrington Police (@PoliceWarr) March 29, 2020

In Derbyshire, police were accused of naming and shaming people after releasing drone footage of people walking their dogs in the peak district, which officers said was ‘non essential’.

One of the UK’s most senior police officers, Met Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu, has warned forces that their handling of the crisis will be remembered for generations to come.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said it was important for police not to overreach their powers but also asked the public not to judge officers too harshly given the circumstances.

Official guidance from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) is for officers to ‘engage, explain and encourage people to go home’ and only enforce as a last resort.

Police officers break up a group of people who had gathered in Glasgow city centre in defiance of lockdown rules (Picture: AFP)

NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt said: ‘This is a public health emergency and we need the support of the public in ensuring these social distancing measures are adhered to.

‘Help the NHS and those most vulnerable in our communities by staying home unless your journey is essential. We are grateful to everyone who has already followed this advice.’

He added that officers may ‘have to ask people about their circumstances if they’re outdoors’ and will ‘encourage those who are out without good reason to go back home.’



‘Where people don’t comply, we will direct them to go home, and if necessary we will issue a fine.

‘This is a last resort, but we will use our powers if we have to’ he said.

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