A police force has taken extreme measures to prevent social gatherings by putting black dye in a picturesque blue lagoon.
Derbyshire Police said it had chosen to dye the popular Instagrammer spot in Buxton as gatherings were becoming “dangerous”.
In a Facebook post Buxton safer neighbourhood policing team said: “No doubt this is due to the picturesque location and the lovely weather (for once) in Buxton.
“However, the location is dangerous and this type of gathering is in contravention of the current instruction of the UK Government.
“With this in mind, we have attended the location this morning and used water dye to make the water look less appealing.”
Officers were pictured wearing white overalls, masks and blue gloves as they dyed the water.
The force added this was a regular tactic to deter people from swimming in the former limestone quarry, as the water was toxic.
Signs have also been put up around the site by the council in recent years to warn people the water contains car wrecks, dead animals and rubbish.
Last week the same police force came under fire for using drones to track dog walkers and ramblers through the hillsides.
Civil liberties groups have reportedly slammed the police for 'Orwellian' behaviour, describing the drone recording in Derbyshire as 'over-the-top policing'
Its latest actions have not down well with the public, who said the police should be “ashamed of themselves”.
Local resident Alex John Desmond wrote on Facebook: “This is a joke, the way this force is acting is not representative of policing by consent which is the way the UK is meant to be governed. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You have taken something beautiful and damaged it.”
Stephen Soto added: “Poisoning the water so we don’t use it, sad, talk about destroying the earth and controlling the people.”
Police were given new powers on Thursday to fine anyone outside their home without good reason, with penalties starting at £60 and rising to a maximum of £960 for repeat offenders.
