Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Avon and Somerset police forces are the first to go live with the systems. It comes as officers patrolled parks and seaside resorts as people enjoyed sunny weather. The crackdown included police dying a “blue lagoon” black to discourage visitors to Derbyshire.

They justified the move, saying gatherings at Harpur Hill, Buxton, were dangerous and are in contravention of the lockdown. The same force has used drones to check walkers in the Peak District.

Meanwhile in Neath, South Wales, the same device ordered people back into their homes.

But critics have said police needed to be careful not to overstep the mark with their new powers.

Professor Robert Dingwall, a public health expert who advises the government on tackling the pandemic said: “A heavy handed approach with policing misses the spirit and the science behind social distancing.

“It risks confrontation with innocent citizens trying to escape the prison of their own four walls.

Taking a break is vitally important if people are to make the sacrifice being asked.

“We know that mental and physical inactivity comes with its own costs which are themselves deadly long term.”

The lockdown has increased the pressure on policing, with officers saying they are at risk of catching and spreading the virus due to a lack of personal protection equipment (PPE). Many officers are already off the beat self-isolating.

There are fears neighbourhood beat patrols could be scrapped as the crisis deepens.

Officers responding to incidents are not routinely given PPE, unless those calling in the incident confirm someone at the scene has possible virus symptoms.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) refused to confirm the percentage of officers currently off, saying this would be “advantageous to criminals.”

But Police Federation chairman John Apter said a considerable number of officers are self-isolating. He said: “This massively impacts our ability to police.”

Martin Hewitt, NPCC chairman, said: “We have been extensively planning for how we will maintain critical policing for the public with significant numbers of officers and staff off sick.”

Paul Netherton, deputy chief of Devon and Cornwall police, said his force had just one vehicle fully equipped with PPE, nicknamed the “Covid Car”, which is being sent to high-risk incidents where suspects or victims may be infected. He said: “We are trying to make sure every force has got that equipment.

“And where we haven’t got it enough to give to every single officer all of the time we will send a unit with the kit, so as I said the Covid Car will have the kit.”

Katy Bourne, chairwoman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said overall the lockdown could disrupt nationwide plans to recruit 20,000 new officers due to assessment centres being closed.

But Nottinghamshire police said it had just had its biggest intake of officers in its history with 72 new recruits joining in the past week.

Some crime categories, including shoplifting, have seen slight increases this week.

The British Oil Security Syndicate recorded a rise of more than 20 per cent in people driving away from garages without paying for petrol last weekend.

Coronavirus-related cyber frauds are also rising. But, overall, forces have seen a fall in crime during lockdown.

A Met spokesman said: “The reduction in officer and staff numbers is off-set by a reduction in crime and a reduction in calls to us requiring a response.”

This week saw people face court after claiming to be infected and then coughing at police.

Samuel Konneh, 38, appeared at Manchester and Salford magistrates’ court on Thursday accused of spitting blood at police. He has been remanded in custody.

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