The union body representing Scotland’s police says easing the lockdown will put extra pressure on frontline officers.
The majority of the public have been supportive of the force and the lockdown but a small minority have refused to comply.
That has led to attacks in which officers were spat at or coughed on.
Police Scotland said there had been more than 100 coronavirus-related attacks and threats between March 24 and April 18.
The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, spoke out yesterday as the first step in a gradual lifting of lockdown was announced by Nicola Sturgeon.
SPF chief David Hamilton said he feared officers would be “squashed” between those refusing to adhere to the new rules and others who want them to be rigorously enforced.
The organisation also criticised the Scottish Government for refusing to offer tests to officers after it emerged more than 100 of them had suffered attacks relating to Covid-19.
Asked about easing the lockdown, Hamilton said: “The problem is the public are just going to get confused.
“Our real concern is that people start thinking this is the police being awkward.
“The potential is that bond of trust which we have with the public, which is policing by consent, is going to get really stretched.
"Some are going to ask why we aren’t rigorously enforcing these regulations, and others are going to ask what the problem is with sunbathing.”
Police officers have played a key role in ensuring the public adhere to the lockdown and abide by physical distancing rules.
Hamilton called for all cases of attacks and threats on officers to be dealt with in court.
He also demanded that officers exposed to the virus in “high-risk encounters” be given early testing.
He tweeted that the Scottish Government’s “refusal” to offer testing made these officers potential “super-spreaders”.
Hamilton told the Record it made sense for officers in high-risk situations to get tested immediately, rather than go to work.
He said the Government’s priority is to test NHS staff, adding that there was a “lack of appreciation” for the role played by officers.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: “Abuse and assault is not part of the job for police officers and staff and will not be tolerated.
“The Chief Constable has made it clear this completely unacceptable.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Threats to police officers and frontline workers will not be tolerated.
“We want to support key workers back to work. It’s why symptomatic police officers, or members of their household, are included in the priority group for testing.”
