Tuesday morning news briefing: Police given lockdown warning

Police given warning on 'overzealous' virus tactics

Has the long arm of the law been reaching too far? Amid complaints about the "overzealous" enforcement of social distancing regulations, one of Britain's most senior police officers has told colleagues their handling of the coronavirus crisis will be remembered for generations. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu argues that officers must preserve "the trust and confidence of the public" and maintain the tradition of "policing by consent". Read his article for us. In a series of incidents, police forces have fined individuals £60 for buying "non-essential" goods from shops and for going out for a drive "due to boredom". Lord Sumption, a former justice of the Supreme Court, accused police of acting like "glorified school prefects". From shopping bags searched to a ban on fishing - Crime Correspondent Martin Evans explains what we know about the scope of the new laws.

So where can you go, what can you do and how can you shop under the strict new conditions? Understanding the new rules for daily life can be more complicated than you might think. Luckily, our ultimate lockdown Q&A answers all your questions. And Matt's brilliant cartoon today finds humour in the coronavirus rules - it is one of my favourites in a while.

PS - News you can trust is more important than ever. Stay informed with our liveblog, daily Global Health Bulletin, WhatsApp group, coronavirus podcast and index page with all our articles. We have a special offer when you take out a new Telegraph subscription that allows you to access all our newspaper and online articles without leaving home. Sign up for a free one-month trial - then save 50pc on your first three months.

UK death toll is larger than official figures show

Experts have warned that Britain's coronavirus death toll is now likely to be far greater than shown by official figures. Until now, daily numbers - which reveal 1,415 UK deaths so far - have only counted those in hospital and show a growing time lag approaching three weeks in some cases. Health Editor Laura Donnelly explains what new data due to be released by the Office for National Statistics today is likely to show. And use our postcode tool to search for confirmed cases by area. The UK's epidemic is expected to peak in about three weeks before a steady decline in deaths. Will that mean an end to social distancing - or could we face a lockdown until the end of the year? Science Editor Sarah Knapton examines the four most likely scenarios for getting back to normal.

Warm May weather might stifle virus, say experts

Now for the good news. A study suggests the coronavirus outbreak could be stifled by warm English weather in May. Researchers from University College London found infections from three common coronaviruses followed a seasonal pattern in England, with large numbers in winter at the same time as influenza. And view four graphs the Government says show the lockdown is working in the fight against the virus spread.

At a glance: More coronavirus headlines

• Rubbish | Collections could be cut back amid shortage of workers

• Energy | Prepare for blackouts, electricity firms warn householders

• Shopping | Stores end buy one, get one free to ease pressure

• Italy | Social unrest and the mafia emerge from a shattered economy

• Zoom | Why you should delay your calls until quarter past the hour

Comment and analysis

• William Hague | Firms will give up if there is no sign of an end

• Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | Italy's 'true' death rate is a warning

• Michael Deacon | This nervy delivery was finger-lickin' bad

• Nadia Cohen | Why I am missing my cleaner more than anything

• Reader letters | Gratitude for food parcels - when they get through

You Are Not Alone: Surviving coronavirus lockdown

1. Allison Pearson's The Corona Chronicles | A tale of domestic non-bliss - read part one

2. Panic attacks and sleepless nights | How coronavirus is affecting your mental health

3. You Are Not Alone newsletter | Community spirit, advice and tips for coping with isolation

Business and money briefing

Running out of storage | Oil wells across the world could close within weeks due to a lack of space to store unsold crude, analysts warned after prices fell to an 18-year low. Goldman Sachs said producers were having to shut rigs and cap output. With the surplus set to hit 25 million barrels a day, Ed Clowes explains how firms are running low on storage.

• 'It's disorientating' | Inside Britain's shutdown property market

• Investment Tip | This firm feels like a survivor worth holding on to

• Alex cartoon | See our brilliant cartoonist's latest work

Gallery: Virus fightback in pictures

Comfort for the masses | The USNS Comfort medical ship moves up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty yesterday. Read US Editor Ben Riley-Smith's report as the American coronavirus death toll surpasses the number killed in the 9/11 attacks and view a gallery of world images.

Also in the news today

Royal branding | The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have mothballed their "Sussex Royal" accounts as they leave Britain behind to spend the next few months "focusing on their family" and working "safely and privately". The Duke and Duchess, now living in Los Angeles, told fans on Instagram "You've been great!" as they signed off as "Harry and Meghan" to enter a social media blackout with a day to spare before the deadline to remove the word royal from their branding.

• State secret? | MI5 will not reveal the age of youngest-ever boss

• Suspected murder-suicide | Family of four and dog found dead

• 'Ticking time bomb' | Tests reveal dangers of high rise cladding

• Jonathan Dimbleby | I wish my father had told me about Belsen

• Farewell riches | Countess 'happier' not living billionaire lifestyle

And finally...

Up in smoke? | The owner of a Grade I listed tower restored with public money has prompted renewed anger after putting it up for sale for a second time - despite claiming he would give it away in a raffle. As Victoria Ward explains, more than £3m of taxpayers' money was spent on the restoration of Hadlow Tower in Kent.