The West Hampstead Farmers Market

• WHAT does the law actually say about citizens going out to take exercise under the current regulations? (Police check West Hampstead Farmers Market for social distancing, March 28).

The BBC has produced a useful page about current police powers. These vary between areas since the regulations were brought into force by statutory instrument.

In England there is no restriction as to how often people can go out and exercise or for how long. The casual statements of ministers are not, incidentally, a source of law for the police to enforce.

One example, Grant Schapps’s “order” to only go out for food once a week (which was later slapped down by Downing Street).

Former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption said a few days ago that some police were exceeding their powers and trying to introduce a police state with “house imprisonment” where “the law” is anything the government or police fancy.

It is precisely at times like this that such attempts will be made. How right he was!

MICHAEL NEWLAND
NW5