The Central Community Team, which represents Bedfordshire Police, tweeted out an ominous message that sounds like it could have been ripped straight from the pages of George Orwell's 1984."If you think that by going for a picnic in a rural location no one will find you, don't be surprised if an officer appears from the shadows! We are covering the whole county," states the tweet.

The message was accompanied by a photo of two officers literally standing in the shadows.

Respondents to the tweet were nonplussed.

"If you think that by going to burgle in a rural location no one will find you, don't be surprised if an officer appears from the shadows! We are covering the whole county – SAID NO POLICE FORCE EVER," tweeted one.

"Stop it. Just stop it. If you could compose a Tweet more likely to make me want to go for an isolated picnic, I can't think of it," said Philip Sinclair.

The Central Community Team later partially walked back the original tweet, stating, "We're aware of some concerns in relation to this tweet. Please rest assured that it was well intentioned," while claiming they are only trying to "save lives."