Are police officers being overzealous about imposing the Covid rules?

THE simple reason the police enforce the Covid laws is because people have ignored the request to stay indoors. The attitude seems to be that as long as they can get out and do what they want, then the crisis in our hospitals does not concern them. Don’t criticise the police, who do a wonderful job. I support them issuing fines to these selfish people. In fact, the fines should be increased from the derisory £200 to £2,000.

JOHN GODFREY, Brownhills, W. Mids.

I AM in total agreement with Ross Clark regarding the overzealous enforcement of the lockdown rules (Mail). As the Government has not specified how far the public can travel to take exercise, it can’t be right that people are being fined. We are told to stay at home, but daily exercise is permitted, and we should not be made to feel guilty for enjoying a walk. Exercise is vitally important to physical and mental wellbeing. The risk is that the public will lose respect for the police. Mrs KAY WAKEFIELD-COLE,

Ascot, Berks.

WE ARE seeing the darker side of policing. Bullying and intimidation of walkers is unacceptable. If this continues, the police may never get back public confidence after the pandemic. Politicians need to act to stop this Wild West policing policy.

ALEX PRESCOTT, Lancaster. DON’T knock Derbyshire police. They are trying to protect villagers like me who are too afraid to go out in our own area because of the selfish behaviour of visitors who do not understand the countryside code or social distancing.

EDWARD POVEY, Castleton, Derbys. MY NEAREST park is always busy and when I went for a walk around my small housing estate the other morning, I counted 18 people who were doing the same thing. So I decided to drive three miles for a walk on a quiet public footpath in the countryside, where I saw only one family and another couple walking their dogs. Was I breaking the law?

CHRIS ALDOUS, address supplied. I BACK Derbyshire police. Boris needs to stop begging the public to stay at home and make it a legal requirement. Too many people are still not taking the virus seriously.

JOHN WARD, Halling, Kent. I LIVE in a small village and the number of visitors who are coming here during this lockdown is unbelievable. Most of the locals are obeying the Covid rules, but feel threatened by the sheer number of visitors around them when they go out to exercise.

BERYL AMBLER, Wentworth, S. Yorks. OUR family had timed entry tickets for a National Trust property with designated walks, but it is 27 miles away from our home. In view of government rules and the possibility of being fined, we decided it would be wiser to exercise in the local park instead. It seemed as though half the neighbourhood had the same idea. There were large numbers strolling in all directions, while dogs and children ran around. which option would have been safer?

PAT MASSEY, Nottingham.