NOW STAY OFF THE STREETS
Scots police chief warns new powers WILL be used to enforce lockdown as virus infection rates keep soaring
SCOTS face being arrested or fined if they break the strict rules ordering them to stay at home.
Police chiefs said they will have ‘no hesitation’ in using tough new powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown.
A senior SNP minister also insisted that officers would arrest people and issue fines if they flout the rules, which impose unprecedented restrictions on our daily lives.
Yesterday, MSPs backed the draconian new powers allowing shops to be forced to close – and public gatherings and even queues to be broken up.
The rigid stance comes after thousands of Scots ignored Government warnings to stay at home as much as possible to help stop the virus spreading.
Beaches, beauty spots, parks and playgrounds were packed at the weekend – with the term ‘Covidiot’ coined to describe those breaching safety advice.
Scotland is on the cusp of a spike in Covid-19 cases, with the death toll up by two to 16
SCOTS were yesterday warned to stay off the streets or face arrest after the Chief Constable said police will have ‘no hesitation’ in using new powers to enforce the virus lockdown.
Iain Livingstone refused to rule out forcing people to carry ‘papers’ as proof they are travelling for legitimate reasons, such as being a ‘key worker’.
His intervention came as Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf warned that officers will arrest people and hand out fines to enforce unprecedented restrictions on daily life.
He confirmed that failing to comply with guidance on the Covid-19 outbreak will be a criminal offence.
Yesterday, MSPs voted to back UK Government legislation handing Police Scotland powers which will allow them to detain anyone flouting strict new regulations.
Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon took action on Monday evening to put the entire UK into lockdown, with citizens told they must remain in their own homes unless buying basic necessities, attending work, caring for vulnerable relatives or taking exercise once a day.
Weddings, christenings and any public gatherings of more than two people have been banned, and only immediate family members are allowed to attend funerals.
Police will be tasked with enforcing the restrictions, and yesterday Mr Livingstone said his officers would do so without hesitation. Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, he said: ‘In the interim, we will be relying on the consent, the support, the compliance of the public, and the vast majority of the people of Scotland, we think, will do that.
‘Those that don’t, we’ll challenge them, and when the powers are enacted, we will have no hesitation in using those powers if people continue to defy what is very, very clear advice.’
He added: ‘We are visible 24 hours a day, we can be on patrol and we can go and ask premises, shop premises, other retail premises, “Why are you open, do you need to be open and are you going to close?”.
‘Equally, if people are gathering in public spaces in defiance of the instructions, we can go and engage with them and suggest that they go home, they stay home and they follow the government advice.’
Police will be given additional powers when emergency legislation is passed by MPs at Westminster and has received royal assent, which is expected today.
Mr Livingstone also refused to rule out forcing people to carry ‘papers’ or a form of identification as proof that they are out of their homes legitimately, and are not flouting restrictions.
Asked whether people could be asked to produce papers, he said: ‘I hope not. It is very contrary to our history of policing by consent, of policing with the public, for the public, and we are not at that stage yet.’ But he added: ‘Quite clearly, the UK and Scottish governments may consider additional measures if there isn’t the level of compliance regarding social distancing that we seek.’
Mr Livingstone revealed that Police Scotland could reach out to retired staff to bring them in as special constables to help deal with the outbreak.
He also raised concerns over an ‘absence’ of personal protective equipment (PPE) for officers.
Mr Livingstone said: ‘We are hoping that we will be in a position to issue bespoke equipment to a number of officers this week that is fitted, that is unique to them. But clearly we are in the position of competing, as it were, with all other agencies in the public sector and health. Our colleagues in the health profession are in need of PPE as well.’
Explaining the new powers set out in the UK Government’s emergency Coronavirus Bill, Mr Yousaf said yesterday: ‘This includes powers allowing the police in Scotland to support and enforce public health measures, including powers to detain people and put them in appropriate isolation facilities if necessary to protect public health.
‘The Bill also gives Scottish ministers the power to restrict or prohibit events or gatherings where incidence or transmission of coronavirus constitutes a serious and imminent threat to public health.’ Further measures to reduce the number of people attending court will achieve a ‘significant reduction in the number of cases programmed, in particular those cases that are not essential or exceptional’, Mr Yousaf said.
He also said the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) could be forced to release prisoners early to help tackle the spread of the virus.
Mr Yousaf said: ‘If, for example, our staff absences at SPS continue because of the public health advice, we will have to look at every single measure. We cannot rule out releasing prisoners if that is in the best interests of keeping our establishments safe and those who work in those establishments.’
It was confirmed yesterday that all prison visiting had been banned amid the lockdown.
Lord Advocate James Wolffe said the justice system will try to resolve or progress cases ‘with the minimum need for appearance at court’. Where it is deemed necessary for cases to go ahead, he said the number of witnesses will be kept to a minimum.
The ‘great majority’ of cases will be postponed, he said, while people accused of crimes who are already in custody will generally appear via video link.
‘We cannot rule out releasing prisoners’