Police prepared to use powers

Police will not hesitate to use new powers which are to be brought in to enforce the coronavirus lockdown, Police Scotland’s chief constable has said.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that police are to be given powers to fine those who breach the new measures, with the new powers expected to be introduced later in the week.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said officers will rely on people complying with what they are asked to do, but warned people against disobeying the advice.

He told BBC Good Morning Scotland: “In the interim, we will be relying on the consent, the support, the compliance of the public, and

“When the powers are enacted, we will have no hesitation in using those powers. CHIEF CONSTABLE IAIN LIVINGSTONE

the vast, vast majority of the people of Scotland we think will do that and 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.”

Under the new measures, people are only allowed to leave home to shop for basic necessities, to take exercise once a day, for medical reasons, to care for a vulnerable person, or to travel to essential work that cannot be done at home.

Mr Livingstone said police are maintaining operations despite an increase in staff absences during the pandemic.

The chief constable said some officers have been redeployed from where they are no longer needed, such as at airports.