A fleet of boats that usually escorts Royal Navy warships will be armed with loudspeaker systems to stop the public breaking coronavirus lockdown rules.

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Cops on the UK’s South Coast have joined forces with the military to stop people basking in the sun in Cornwall and Devon this weekend.

A specialist marine unit of the Ministry of Defence Police will cruise along the South West’s coastline and use loudspeakers to order Brits off the area’s pristine beaches, according to one of the country’s top officers.

The fleet is trained in counter-terrorism, and is usually used to escort the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines and warships.

Paul Netherton, Deputy Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall, said that police would support the military on the ground.

We don’t want to use these powers, but we will turn people away if they do not have a legitimate reason to travel.

He told the i: “We are working with the Ministry of Defence Police this weekend. Their marine fleets from bases in Portsmouth and Plymouth will be operating along the Dorset, Devon and Cornwall coastlines ensuring people do not gather unnecessarily on beaches.

“They have Tannoy and can tell people to move on from just off the coast.”

DCC Netherton continued: “We will also be patrolling the beaches, but we will also be sticking to our strategy of engaging with people and asking them why they are on the beach.

“Then we will explain the rules to them and, finally, ask them to return home. Only if it’s necessary after these three steps have been taken will we issue notices.”

The police chief said they were expecting a rush of visitors to the area over the Easter weekend, despite the ongoing lockdown.

He said: “There are fears among people who live here that there will be more people travelling down this weekend.

“As a consequence, we will be a bit more robust on stopping people travelling to Devon and Cornwall. This will include stopping caravans or cars with roof boxes and asking drivers why they are coming down, where they are going and what’s their justification for travelling.

“We don’t want to use these powers, but we will turn people away if they do not have a legitimate reason to travel.”

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It comes as police forces across the country are cracking down on Brits flouting the lockdown.

One of the country's top cops has threatened to check supermarket trolleys and block roads if people don't obey the rules.

Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley said he will take action within days now the three-week "grace period" is over.

He said: "If things don't improve, and we don't get the compliance we would expect, then the next stage will be road blocks and it will be stopping people to ask why they are going, where they're going.

"This is about reasonableness and if people are not reasonable in terms of the journeys and the trips they are taking, they are going to fall foul of the law."

PCC Adderley continued: "We will not, at this stage, be setting up road blocks. We will not, at this stage, start to marshal supermarkets and checking the items in baskets and trolleys to see whether it's a legitimate, necessary item.

"But again, be under no illusion, if people do not heed the warnings and the pleas I'm making today, we will start to do that."

The government has ordered Brits to stay at home, saying people can only leave the house to buy food, for medical reasons, or to go to work if unable to work from home.

They added that “people must stay in their primary residence.”

The latest figures shows there are 65,077 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK, and 7,978 people have died.

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