COVID COPS ON PATROL
Police deny crackdown amid multiple pub swoops over social distancing Bar bosses ask punters for ‘ essential’ proof they are from two households
Poli Police insist they are NOT out to hammer struggling stru pubs – after a weekend w of action sp sparked concern a among the trade.
A string of Ayr and Prest Prestwick’s most popular venue venues received multiple visits from officers on Saturday.
It c came amid cop concerns that t the government’s ‘ two hous household’ rule was “not being adhered to” during Ayr Gold Cup day.
One of the town’s busiest bars, The Ghillie Dhu, took the decision to temporarily close its doors following one visit. Bosses said it was now “essential” that customers provide proof on arrival of how many houses they come from. But Bob Shields, whose Twa Dugs pub received THREE Saturday visits, warned: “The trade is feeling a little bushwhacked. We understand guidelines are in place but there’s only so much we can do as licensees.” Police area commander, Brian Anderson ( left), said: “Advice was offered at a small number of premises where it appeared current social distancing rules were not being adhered to.”
Police insist they are NOT launching a targeted crackdown on pubs after a string of boozers were visited over the weekend.
It comes after one of Ayr’s most popular venues shut its doors on one of the busiest days of trade after officers questioned whether punters were adhering to the new six people from two households rule.
The Ghillie Dhu at Burns Statue Square took the decision to temporarily close after a visit from cops on Saturday.
Ayr Gold Cup Day saw police out in force with venues across the town and Prestwick receiving increased checks.
But some concerned pub bosses say the level of scrutiny amid new Covid safety regulations was “heavy handed”.
Bob Shields, who runs the Twa Dugs, said: “We had three police visits on Saturday alone.
“That’s more in a single day than a whole year so far.
“The trade is feeling a little bushwhacked – we’re going through the toughest time any of us can remember.
“We understand guidelines are in place but there’s only so much we can do as licensees.”
South Ayrshire Area Commander, Brian Anderson, denied that extra patrols were part of a targeted operation – instead insisting the extra officers were simply out to keep people safe during the busy Gold Cup weekend.
He told the Post: “Our officers visited a number of licensed premises in South Ayrshire on Saturday under Operation Inver,
the well- established policing plan designed to keep people safe in bars and restaurants, and as a result of the Gold Cup racing event taking place in Ayr.
“Advice was offered to staff and customers at a small number of premises where it appeared current social distancing requirements were not being adhered to.
“No premises were closed by the police.”
Ghillie Dhu bosses said they chose to close after police raised some concerns about them challenging customers on the two household rule.
In a statement they said: “They have made it clear to us that it is not enough to accept the customers’ word on this without proof and that where there is any doubt or uncertainty then unfortunately the customers have to be refused.
“Rather than have any issues with tables being told they couldn’t eat on arrival we decided to cancel all bookings in advance and close for the evening.
“It will now be ESSENTIAL that customers provide us with proof that their party is made up of no more than two households and where there is any doubt of this then we have no alternative than to refuse entry.
“We are asking for your support and understanding in this and that you please do not put us in the position where we have to refuse your custom.”
On Sunday the bar/ restaurant reopened and in a later statement bosses added: “We are pleased to report that we had a second very positive meeting with the police. “Two officers came to the pub and have provided us with excellent clear advice and support on the best way to deal with the current measures and we are grateful to them for this assistance.”
Mr Anderson admits guidance has been unclear but says he’s asking people to “take personal responsibility to do the right thing”.
The Area Commander added: “Visits to premises as part of our policing plan will continue in the coming weeks.
“The Chief Constable has made it clear that we are asking people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of the current measures is to aid the collective effort to stay safe, protect others and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading.
“Our officers will continue to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance and encourage compliance.
“We will use enforcement as a last resort only where there is a clear breach of the legislation.”
The Autumn of 1973 was just before I could legally drink, just after the worst ravages of acne . . . and right in the middle of wondering what the heck the Bay City Rollers were all about.
In May, the Ayrshire Post had just signed me as an £ 11 a week junior reporter.
And in October, they packed me off to Edinburgh’s Napier College to have the rough edges smoothed off their newly discovered and highly prized rough diamond of a young journalist!
Come on folks, cut me some slack here. My grandchildren might read this one day!
Anyway, the journalism course at Napier was a wonderful opportunity for would- be reporters to get an insight on what they would be reporting on.
We were taken to Edinburgh’s High Court of Justiciary to witness the law at work.
And then to the capital’s Saughton Prison to witness where it hadn’t.
We visited the National Union of Miners headquarters where a man called Mick McGahey thundered out the heritage and values of trade unionism.
And the Fire Service Training School at Gullane where student fireman rescued student jounalists from smoke- filled tunnels.
But perhaps the most memorable was our trip to the Scottish Police Training College at Tulliallan, across the River Forth near Kincardine.
Memorable not least for being illegally served a beer by a Chief Superintendent. . . and quaffing it whilst under age in front of fifty uniformed officers in the dining hall!
Over more beers in a kind of mess room afterwards – our host was a Glasgow- based Chief Inspector who was more like Taggart than the TV cop destined to appear on our screens a decade later.
“Son, see that black and white cheque on our hats – well, that’s what the polis is all aboot! Black and white. We don’t make the law, we just enforce it.
“There’s legal and there’s illegal. It’s black and white.”
Warming to this monochrome theme, he continued, “You start mixing black and white and what do you get? Your get grey areas, son.
“And the people who create grey areas? That’s your f****** solicitors, son!”
Anyway, fast forward from 1973 to 2020 – this past weekend in fact - and ‘ Taggart’s’ homily came hurtling back.
Police Scotland chose Saturday’s Gold Cup day in Ayr to reinforce the new “Rule of Six – Two Households” hospitality policy.
My hostelry got three visits from uniformed officers – more in a single day than the whole year so far.
My pub seemed to pass the test – apart from the barely audible commentary from Ayr Racecourse via ITV - at one end of the bar.
“You’ll need to mute your television” said the constable.
“It’s only the racing commentary,” I ventured.
“No – the law says no volume at all – you have to turn it down,” I was told.
Taggart’s ‘ black and white’ had finally been found proven!
On Police Scotland’s third visit, they queried a group of five senior citizens sitting together.
“I checked with them – they said they were from two households,” my manager told them.
“Aye – but do you believe them?” asked a WPC.
And there . . . in a single sentence . . . is the “grey area” that a pub choked full of solicitors would struggle to get their heads around!
If a publican diligently asks the question and is given an answer - under what guidelines does he decide if he’s hearing the truth?
As far as I’m aware – this black and white law has no guidelines.
Do we take customers into an interrogation room individually and ask them the colour their “household” lounge carpet?
Do we ask them to produce individual letters to the same address?
Or – do we ask for a photo of them having breakfast together in their pyjamas? And I don’t mean to turn this into a laughing matter.
At least one Ayr pub closed its doors following a police visit on Saturday... and one pub manager told me the police had “scared business away”.
If I were Police Scotland’s public relations officer, I would be advising pub owners to use “awareness and common sense”.
But that advice goes both ways. On the issue of my racing commentary, common sense would have told the officers this was Ayr
. . . on Ayr Gold Cup Saturday, for goodness sake.
“Tell you what Mr Shields – keep the volume as low as you can – and turn it off after the last race” would have sufficed.
But I don’t blame the officers involved . . I blame their black and white interpretation of the law that ‘ Taggart’ warned me about 47 years ago!
I’m told the current police policy is “Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce”.
I respectfully suggest the ‘ Explaining’ and ‘ Encouraging’ could use some improvement.