A senior counter terror officer has warned police against "over-zealous" enforcement of coronavirus lockdown measures amid growing criticism from across the UK.
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu says officers should strive to preserve the public's confidence through persuasion and education, rather than automatic enforcement.
Complaints have included that people have been fined £60 for going out to buy items deemed non-essential, or for going on a drive due to boredom.
There are also reports of officers telling shopkeepers not to sell Easter eggs, as well as using drones to shame people exercising.
At the same time, Mr Basu is urging the public not to judge officers too harshly in what are unprecedented times.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Mr Basu called for the public to show understanding toward police.
But he said officers need to "police by consent" as they are compelled to use powers he "never imagined a British police officer would be asked to use".
"Everyone in policing is acutely aware that how we police this pandemic will be remembered for many years to come," Mr Basu wrote.
"Preserving the trust and confidence of the public by policing by consent is our mantra, and has been since 1829.
"There will be a period of readjustment to our new responsibilities, which no police officer ever thought they would have."
Mr Basu urged officers to heed calls by two of Britain's most senior officers, Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and Martin Hewitt, the chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), that "persuasion and education to do the right thing is our primary goal".
This is as apposed to being too quick to impose punishments.
West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson said arguments that Britain was becoming a "police state" due to the coronavirus restrictions were "widely off the mark".
In a series of tweets, he said: "Last week the Prime Minister asked the public to modify their behaviour as part of #StayHomeSaveLives. This was urgent and policing acted to support without laws to do it til Friday. The laws do not cover all the gov advice.
"This public were looking for support from the police all last week. They are calling us re breaches of advice that are not within the law. Officers and staff are doing their best and the public are following the advice. The use of powers is minimal.
"There have been a small number of cases I have seen where I think this could have been done differently. However comments re police state are widely off the mark. Time to be supporting the police as staff are doing a marvellous job in difficult circs."
Former High Court judge Lord Sumption criticised Derbyshire Police for having "shamed our policing traditions" with "frankly disgraceful" efforts of trying to shame people exercising in the countryside, reports the Daily Mail.
It has been previously reported forces are planning to cut arrests and ignore crimes because of the crisis.
The newspaper said Lancashire Police have issued 123 fines for breaches, while Cheshire summonsed half a dozen from one house for going out to purchase non-essential items.
Meanwhile, the NPCC has denied a report in The Guardian saying it is drawing up new guidance for officers not to "over-reach" in their lockdown enforcements as a result of the complaints received."
We are not rewriting our guidance to officers," the NPCC tweeted.
"It remains the same as it was. Engage, explain, encourage and finally enforce.
"This is a fast changing situation and we, along with the public, are adapting as we go forward."
