Inconsistent lifting of measures would make ‘policing harder’

Lifting lockdown differently across the country will be particularly challenging and could jeopardise the public’s high levels of compliance, Scotland’s police chief has warned.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone praised his force’s “phenomenal effort” responding to the coronavirus pandemic and thanked the public for their “extremely high” levels of co-operation so far.

Speaking at the Scottish Police Authority’s board meeting, he said he wanted the police service to be judged by whether the force has helped lower the mortality rate while “retaining and enhancing the support and trust of the people” and ensuring the safety of Police Scotland staff.

However, looking ahead to any changes in the guidance and laws, Mr Livingstone said that any

“Suddenly it gives the public and agencies such as ourselves challenges. CHIEF CONSTABLE IAIN LIVINGSTONE

differentiation when it comes to the easing of lockdown measures would cause “particular challenges for policing”.

“One can imagine if there are changes in restrictions that have a differentiation – based on locality, based on sector, based on individual criteria, whether that’s age or status,” he said.

“Suddenly it gives the public and agencies such as ourselves challenges in terms of maintaining the level of consent and co-operation that we’ve seen thus far.”

This message was echoed by John Scott QC, who chairs the independent advisory group looking at the police’s use of the new powers.

He said that inconsistent changes to the lockdown could cause “increased confusion greater uncertainty and an end to some of the buy-in that we’ve seen from the public”.