‘Tell cops of new rules’

National Autistic Society Scotland has welcomed changes to the Stay at Home rules from Scottish Government for those with autism and disabilities.

The guidance makes allowances for autistic people who need to leave home more than once a day to exercise, or travel beyond their local area should they need to for health reasons.

However, a number of autistic people and families with autistic children have contacted the charity reporting that they have been told to go home by police, or threatened with fines.

The charity has written to the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Iain Thomas Livingstone, asking that police officers across Scotland are made aware of the changes to the guidance.

Amended guidance issued from the Scottish Government makes it clear that anyone who is autistic or has a learning disability can leave their home more than once a day and travel beyond their local area, if this is important to their health.

Anyone who needs carers with them does not have to stay the two metres apart that is required by social distancing.

However, it is still important to be careful and only go out when needed, to reduce the chance of getting ill or infecting other people.

Nick Ward, director of the National Autistic Society Scotland, said: “The lockdown has fundamentally changed life and this can be very challenging for Scotland’s 58,000 autistic people. For many, exercising in a safe way is very important to their physical and mental health and well-being.

“We w e l c o m e the amended rules from the Scottish Government, but are extremely concerned not all police officers are aware of the c ha n g e s o r a re interpreting them correctly.

“We have today written to Police Scotland and urged the government to promote the new guidance appropriately so all are aware.”