A 21-year-old man arrested in Tooting was wrongfully convicted of breaking new coronavirus laws in what has been described as an “astonishing” misuse of powers.

The man was arrested outside Tooting Leisure Centre on March 28 and was later charged with possession of class B drugs, going equipped to steal, and acting contrary to paragraph 23(1)(a) and (2) of schedule 21 to the Coronavirus Act.

He pleaded guilty to all offences two days later at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court and was fined £200 for possession of drugs and £60 for the offence under the Coronavirus Act.

When first contacted about the case, the Met said it was not being reviewed, but after further questioning last week, the force admitted: "It was identified this legislation had been applied incorrectly.

"The charge and fine were subsequently set aside. The charges for possession of class B drugs and going equipped to steal were not overturned and the £200 fine stands.

"In this case officers were rightly dealing with an individual suspected of a separate crime and who was also in a public space without a valid reason.

"However, (he) was incorrectly charged with an offence under the Coronavirus Act 2020. This legislation only relates to 'potentially infectious persons' which was not applicable in these circumstances.

"This is very new legislation and we have been working with all of our frontline officers to help them interpret and understand it. This includes sharing the recent guidance from the National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing.

"The officers involved have been spoken to and reminded of the way the legislation should be applied."

But the force has since been criticised for its blunder, with at least one other case currently being “re-examined” in relation to a possible incorrect charge in connection with the new coronavirus legislation.

Kirsty Brimelow QC, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, said: "It is astonishing that the police and lawyers and magistrates are continuing to get the law so wrong."

The Coronavirus Act, which came into force last month, allows officers to remove or detain a "suspected infectious person" for screening and assessment with "reasonable force" if necessary.

Police were given separate powers to break up gatherings and fine people breaching restriction of movement rules under the Health Protection Regulations 2020.