COUNTY leaders are backing the police to carry out their new powers under the Government's lockdown rules.

In a letter to The Mail signed by political figures, they say the community supports officers as they dish out fines to those who don't follow rules on staying at home to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The letter is signed by Cumbria county councillors Tony Lywood, Mike Hawkins, William McEwan and Deborah Earl and the Rt Hon Hazel Blears, former Minister for Policing and Counter-Terrorism, among others.

It says: "The Metropolitan Police Federation Chairman has expressed concerns in the press that the reputation of the police could be damaged by the necessary enforcement of measures to combat COVID-19. While we understand his concerns because policing in the UK is as he says, by consent, we don't think they have anything to worry about. The vast majority of people in the UK will respect the police enough to not put them in the position of having to enforce the rules. It's important that the police know the community are right behind them and that we understand that they are trying their best to save lives and to ease the pressure on the NHS. This is an extraordinary crisis and the measures that have cross-party support in Parliament are essential and temporary and we stand solidly behind all our emergency services in this difficult time. Many of us were on opposing sides as recently as December in what was at times a hard-fought election campaign but there are times when politics takes a back seat to community need and this is one of those times."

The letter has been signed by Cumbria County Councillor Tony Lywood, Gerard Richardson MBE, Rt Hon Hazel Blears Former Minister for Policing and Counter-Terrorism, Trudy Harrison MP for Copeland, Mike Starkie Elected Mayor of Copeland, John Mallinson Leader Carlisle City Council, Mike Johnston, Deputy Leader of Allerdale Council, Janet King, Leader Workington Council, Brian O Kane, Mayor of Whitehaven Town Council, Alvin Finch, Mayor of Kendal, Sharon L Webster, Mayor of Ulverston Town Council, Peter Kendall, Chair of Maryport Town Council, David Burn, Mayor of Keswick, Cleator Moor Town Council, Doug Lawson, Mayor of Penrith, Mark Orchard, Mayor of Silloth Town Council, Paul Turner, Gosforth Parish Council Chair and retired Police Officer, Angela Dixon, Mayor of Millom, Graham Calvin, Egremont and CBC Councillor, Mike Hawkins Cumbria County Council, Linda Bulman Jones, Copeland Borough Council, William McEwan, Cumbria County Council, Mike McVeigh, Leader of Copeland Council Labour party group, Deborah Earl, Cumbria County Council Portfolio Holde, Jean Murray, Chair Copeland Labour Party, Karl Connor, Deputy Leader Copeland Labour Party and Juliet Wilson Chair of Allerdale Constituency Labour Party