Brilliant Brits are respecting lockdown laws – but goodwill won’t last if police overstep powers

IT was just last month when my reaction was an amused shudder when I saw Chinese police posting footage from drones shaming their citizens for being out in public during the lockdown.

Like so much about these crazy and extraordinary times, I would never have expected the police in Derbyshire to be employing the same methods used proudly by a totalitarian regime against Brits taking their dog for a stroll.

I would never have expected the police in Derbyshire to be employing the same methods used proudly by a totalitarian regime like China.

I thought it was an elaborate internet joke when I saw the same force had filled a beautiful blue lagoon near Buxton with black ink to put off walkers visiting.

Then over the past 24 hours some overzealous coppers tried to stop the sale of Easter eggs.

A non-essential item, they reckoned.

Hardly! I can think of nothing more important than stuffing our faces with chocolate given we’re still likely to be quarantined by Good Friday.

But when I really realised some forces are using the current trauma as a power trip was when I saw the video of Gemma Migdal, the manager at Grodzinski’s Bakery in Edgware.

She was sensibly and responsibly marking the concrete outside her eatery with spray chalk to ensure customers practiced social distancing before entering the store.

I thought it was an elaborate internet joke when I saw a beautiful blue lagoon near Buxton with black ink to put off walkers visting.Credit: PA:Press Association

But a member of the Metropolitan Police threatened to issue Gemma a ticket and take her to court.

“The law doesn’t change. I don’t create the rules. It’s criminal damage,” the officer argued.

Not only were his actions a complete waste of time, his enforcement of a minor graffiti law meant customers to the shop were more likely to be at risk.

A bakery manager was confronted by police for marking the concrete outside her eatery to ensure customers practiced social distancing.

So, while it’s very unfortunate given the brilliant job the vast majority of the police are doing, it’s proof there is overreach going on.

The public need to applauded for the brilliant job we are doing to enforce social distancing too.

Jobsworth cop fines baker for trying to mark safe spaces for her customers with chalk claiming ‘otherwise there’ll be anarchy’

The Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, said as much at yesterday’s Downing Street briefing where he revealed graphs showing our use of public transport and cars has plummeted.

The entire country is in lockdown. The vast majority of the public are respecting the rules that have instituted an unimaginable change to day to day life. It’s really tough and having a massive impact on mental health.

Its very unfortunate given the brilliant job the vast majority of the police are doing - but there is overreach going on. — Its very unfortunate given the brilliant job the vast majority of the police are doing – but there is overreach going on.Credit: Getty Images – Getty

But we need to remember that our right to leave the house to exercise or drive in our own car remains intact.

It’s important not to lose the goodwill of folk, which is why it’s sensible police bosses are reported to be drawing up new guidelines that will warn individual forces not to overstep the mark when it comes to their lockdown enforcement powers.