House party warning as police issue more than 500 lockdown fines
Scotland’s top police officer has warned people caught flouting the coronavirus lockdown face on-the-spot fines and even arrest as it emerged more than 500 fixed penalty notices have been issued north of the Border over breaches.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone warned officers were ready to “enforce the law” with temperatures set to rise this Easter weekend.
The message was delivered as Nicola Sturgeon warned the virus could spread “out of control” if the public did not stick to the hardline rules on staying at home and social distancing.
More than 500 fines have been issued to people who have flouted lockdown rules since the isolation measures were introduced three weeks ago, particularly at house parties and public gatherings which are now prohibited.
“Police Scotland will explain the legal instructions, encourage compliance and when needed enforce the law,” Mr Livingstone said yesterday.
“Since emergency powers came into force three weeks ago, we have been required to take enforcement action in limited situations.”
Officers will be on patrol to explain the risks to public health of failing to comply with the lockdown rules, with sunny weather forecast for the weekend. The Chief Constable said the vast majority of Scots haveobeyedtherestrictionson movement to halt the spread of Covid-19. But he revealed that on one recent occasion, police visited a house in the Scottish Borders where people had gathered in breach of Covid-19 lockdown measures.
The group initially complied with officers’ instructions, but were later found to have returned to the address, resulting in a number of people being arrested, with others given fixed penalty notices.
“I ask all our fellow citizens to continue their support and cooperation,” the Chief Constable said. “Please stay at home, stay safe and follow the guidance.”
In the case of former chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood, who twice travelled from Edinburgh to her second home in Fife, Mr Livingstone said he believed the matter was dealt with by police in a “timely, fair and proportionate manner”.
Mr Livingstone said it was “entirely appropriate” that she was given a warning and did not require a fine.
He said: “That is exactly how I would expect any citizen to be dealt with.”
It emerged yesterday there have been 537 fixed penalty notices issued since Police Scotland was given new powers to enforce lockdown restrictions.
These penalties included 113 people in Greater Glasgow, 67 in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, along with 57 in Lanarkshire. In Edinburgh there were 32 fines issued and 18 in Lothian and Borders. Fines start at £30, doubling to £60 if they are not paid within 28 days. Repeat offenders can face fines of up to £960.
A total of 35 people have been arrested so far, including eight in Greater Glasgow, while Edinburgh and Lanarkshire each had five.
Groups were dispersed just under 1,900 times by officers and a total of 58 people have so far been returned home using “reasonable force”.
The First Minister admitted yesterday she feared Scots may “tire” of the restrictions on movement, as she issued a fresh plea to stay at home this Easter weekend.
“If we stop these measures prematurely, this virus will start to spread out of control very quickly,” she said.
Justice secretary Humza Yousaf said police were dealing with too many breaches of the lockdown rules.
He said many of those who were arrested would normally “come into contact” with police, and may lead “slightly chaotic” lifestyles.
“People have been having house parties and the police have had to go in and disperse far too many of them,” he said.