POLICE WILL USE FORCE TO CLEAR THE STREETS
■ Emergency laws boost their powers ■ Rules enforced by fines and arrest
SCOTS who do not comply with social distancing rules face arrest and on-the-spot fines.
Emergency legislation has been passed at Westminster to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said officers were prepared to use ‘reasonable force’ to keep people indoors.
The move came as police stepped up patrols and dispersed groups of people gathering in the streets and parks.
In Perth, four or five men were moved on by police in the High Street at around 11.15am yesterday. A passer-by said: ‘One of the officers said, “You need to go home, you could be infecting people”.’
The men, who ranged from their early twenties to forties, responded with verbal abuse before leaving.
In Glasgow, police approached two men who were seen playing tennis in Queen’s Park. Officers explained the lockdown rules to the pair, who were politely asked to go home. Two men playing basketball were also asked to move on.
Officers patrolled Govanhill, Glasgow, to advise the public they must stay indoors.
Yesterday the First Minister said Police Scotland would have new powers to enforce social distancing. Police will be able to hand out spot fines to anyone flouting the social distancing rules.
Nicola Sturgeon said these were ‘last resort’ measures, but that ‘ultimately this is about saving lives’.
The First Minister added: ‘The regulations give us the power to enforce rules which most people are now following anyway. I thank people across the country for their compliance.
‘It will now be the rule that you should only be outside for a reasonable purpose – such as buying food or essential household or medical supplies, travelling to or carrying out essential work, exercising once a day, or providing care or assistance to others.
‘Those found not be to be acting in line with these regulations can be directed to return home or made to return home.’
She said police officers will also have the power to hand out ‘prohibition notices’ and to close businesses and premises if needed.
As well as spot fines people could ‘ultimately if necessary be prosecuted’, Miss Sturgeon warned.
The First Minister said she hoped the new powers would not have to be used, with officers taking a ‘soft approach to enforcement’ – but ‘they will have the power to act if that is deemed necessary’.
Miss Sturgeon added that she expects the ‘vast majority’ of people to ‘do the right thing’ and comply with social distancing.
‘This will get harder with every day that passes, to stay at home and follow all of the advice, but it remains essential that we all do so,’ she said.
‘This has to be a collective effort. The power to stop this epidemic rests with each and every one of us as individuals. I completely recognise how unusual and out of character these regulations are. Ultimately this is about saving lives.’
Mr Livingstone said the vast majority of people are obeying guidance to stay at home.
Speaking on BBC Radio Four, he added: ‘In the first couple of days since the announcement on Monday night, we have seen overwhelming levels of compliance.
‘We have seen citizens of Scotland, indeed right across the UK, standing up, listening to that advice.’ When people are found to be flouting the rules, he said officers have been making ‘it very, very clear what the expectations are and why they need to comply with those requirements’.
He added: ‘If they refuse, as I understand some of the legislation that’s going to be implemented, we would have power to instruct them to return home and to use reasonable force if required.
‘If there’s continued defiance, the absolute back-stop of a power of arrest. I would expect that to be used very, very infrequently, if at all, but it’s important that people know that that power is there.’
Commenting on reports of people allegedly coughing on emergency workers, Mr Livingstone said: ‘Unfortunately people will manifest behaviours that are extreme. We do recognise that this is a really challenging time for everybody across the country.
‘People are having to readjust their daily habits, their work habits, their personal routines and, in some ways, we have to be reasonable in that regard. Everything that we do, will be done in a fair, reasonable and proportionate manner.’
‘Ultimately this is about saving lives’