Moment coronavirus cop tells family off for being in their GARDEN during lockdown

A POLICE force has apologised after an officer told a family they couldn't use their front garden during the coronavirus lockdown.

The officer was filmed by Daniel Connell as she spoke to him at his doorstep, warning him to stay inside as the UK's Covid-19 shutdown continues.

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The row is believed to have taken place in Eastwood, south Yorkshire, as forces around the country face questions over their policing of social distancing powers.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has urged police not to be "heavy-handed" while enforcing the lockdown over Easter weekend, with 26C temperatures set to make Good Friday the hottest day of the year so far.

Meanwhile, police are patrolling supermarket aisles today for "non-essential" shopping, despite a top cop's U-turn on his threat to search shopping trolleys.

POLICE ROW

During the exchange, the officer tells Mr Connell, who had been in the garden with his girlfriend and two children, they  must stay indoors and they "cannot come in your front garden".

She warns the couple: "You do not want your children getting the virus, it does not stop in front of your garden."

Under social distancing guidelines, Brits must stay two metres apart from other people and avoid social gathering of more than two people.

But the government rules say "if you have a garden, make use of the space for exercise and fresh air".

As the row rumbles on, the officer then tells the couple: "You know when you look around and there's nobody out it's because you can't..."

But the pair interrupt her, with Mr Connell insisting: "There's not no-one out, go down the street they're all over the place."

The officer then tells them: "It's not me, it's the government" before adding "1,000 people died yesterday".

He then asks: "What do you do for your hour's exercise and stuff? adding "I spend my hour's exercise in the front garden".

When the officer asks if he is going indoors, he says "I'm going to the shop in a minute, I'm going to Aldi."

The cop then replies "You've already been to the shop once, I've seen you with two cans of pop."

But he insists he had to top up his gas and electric meter.

The officer then asks: "I'm asking you to go indoors, are you refusing to go indoors?"

'ILL-INFORMED'

As the officer walks away, he is heard saying: "Not allowed in your gardens, everyone."

South Yorkshire Police apologised on Twitter after the incident and said they had spoken to the officer.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman tweeted: "This encounter was well-intentioned but ill-informed and we'd like to apologise for the way it was handled.

"We've spoken to the officer concerned and made our approach absolutely clear.

"Again, we apologise for any inconvenience caused & will continue our work to support the NHS."

Meanwhile, cops were called out to over 1,000 reports of covidiots breaking lockdown rules with nearly 500 house parties across Greater Manchester last weekend.

"That is not the guidance, that is not down to the measures we have been adopting thus far.

"That is not what the police are there to do.”

She added: "There is a balance to this. I do pay credit to the police, these are extraordinary times.”

Police chiefs are now calling for laws to ban Brits from long road trips ahead of the four-day weekend.