...while 90 have been issued in past month

POLICE have f i ned 90 motorists since mandatory travel restrictions were imposed last month.

Police Scotland yesterday confirmed ‘half a dozen’ people were issued with on-thespot fines for flouting restrictions last weekend alone.

Under the powers, police can issue £60 on-the-spot penalties, which fall to £30 if paid within 28 days. These can rise to £960 for repeat offenders.

As part of her statement on the new strain of coronavirus on Saturday evening, Nicola Sturgeon said she wanted police to consider how the enforcement of the travel ban could be strengthened.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: ‘Over the weekend we continued to take enforcement action, issued fixed penalties in all circumstances, not least of all house gatherings, which remains an issue of real concern.

‘In terms of travel regulations overall, we have issued over 90 since they came into being. And again, over the weekend there were around half a dozen issued. I couldn’t give confirmation around them but fixed penalties will be issued when required.

‘But we will continue to do that with the approach we have taken from the outset of always enforcing the law when required but primarily seeking people to do the right thing.’

The chief constable cited one case at the weekend in which officers in Glasgow stopped a scrap metal dealer whose van had a Sunderland address and issued an on-the-spot fine.

Mr Livingstone said: ‘I expect police officers to use common sense, exercise discretion and to use t heir professional judgment.

‘By way of an example in terms of where might somebody be stopped, there was a very specific example when officers in Glasgow had seen a van.

‘There was a scrap metal dealer with a Sunderland address on it driving on the South Side of Glasgow.

‘So naturally, using the powers of the Road Traffic Act, they stopped them, asked them what they were doing.

‘And actually they were in complete ignorance of the fact they shouldn’t have been there – they were up there to collect something.

‘So they were issued with a fixed penalty, they were given corrective advice and they were returned.’

On the travel ban between Scotland and other parts of the UK, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘This is a decision we do not take lightly – but one that is necessary to prevent more of this new strain entering Scotland.’

She added that with every mainland local authority area entering Level 4 from Boxing Day, all non- essential travel to and from different local authority areas would be prohibited from Saturday.

Previously, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said enforcement of the travel restrictions would continue to be a ‘last resort’.

Present restrictions mean it is illegal to travel into or out of council areas in Level 3 or Level 4 without a valid exemption.

These include travelling to work or to seek work, travelling for essential shopping, to access social care or to provide assistance to a vulnerable person.

‘Enforcing law when required’