So called "sssential items"

Exactly Hithere, and it depends on how 'essential' is interpreted. For instance offies were deemed essential and allowed to trade, whereas the sweet shop when I get my very necessary chocolate was deemed inessential and so had to close!
I'm still shaking my head over the decision to closed garden centre

Maybe because it entices people to do some "essential" shopping when it is more non essential related?

For example- you have done your essential shopping for the week but now would like to get a magazine, craft item, etc so you get out a second time that same week and add an essential item to camouflage the second shopping trip?

From BBC news website today:

Asked about suggestions that police were patrolling the supermarket aisles to see what people were buying, Downing Street said people were allowed to buy whatever they wanted from shops permitted to be open.

"We set out a list of shops which could remain open and if the shops are on that list then they are free to sell whatever they have in stock," the prime minister's official spokesman said.

Police in Cambridge had to clarify a social media post - since deleted - by an "over-exuberant" officer who suggested they were monitoring aisles of "non-essential" goods in supermarkets.

"The force position, in line with national guidance, is that we are not monitoring what people are buying from supermarkets," they said.

It seems some of the police are as confused as some of the public. Nice to know its all been sorted.

Mountain out of a molehill yet again. The policeman has now deleted the text!

I see nothing wrong with getting them in with your shopping.

A few seem unable to distinguish what are essentials though, so perhaps it's those people who are being checked up on?