231 are fined for breaching Covid rules

SIXTEEN people have been arrested in Tayside for noncompliance with Covid-19 restrictions since the laws were introduced.

A further 231 people have been fined for non-compliance with restrictions including travel, police figures show.

The statistics also reveal officers were required to disperse 2,817 individuals, all of whom complied when police informed them of the rules.

Another 683 individuals only dispersed when police instructed them to do so while a further 21 were dispersed using reasonable force.

The figures are for the period from April 6 last year – when recording of such offences started – to January 3 this year, the most recent available.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: “We are asking people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of these measures is to aid the collective effort to protect the NHS and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading.

“As we have consistently said throughout the pandemic, the vast majority of the public have been complying with the regulations.

“People have been exceptionally quick to act when new restrictions are introduced. The mandatory wearing of face coverings in shops is evidence of this.

“Scotland is, generally, a law-abiding nation and I fully expect that public support to continue as these new measures are introduced.”

The deputy chief constable added: “The policing approach we adopted from the outset of the pandemic will not change.

“Our officers will continue to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance, and encourage compliance.

“We will use enforcement as a last resort where there is a clear breach of the legislation.”

“The chief constable has said on numerous occasions that officers will not be routinely stopping vehicles or setting up road blocks, and that will not change as a result of travel restrictions now being in law.

“However, officers may in the course of their duties come across people who are travelling from one local authority area to another.

“In areas where travel restrictions apply, officers will continue to use the common sense, discretion and excellent judgment that they have applied since the crisis began.”

Earlier this year Dundee was named one of the worst areas in Scotland for flouting coronavirus restrictions with gatherings.

The latest figures show police are still breaking up parties regularly but not as often as previously.

At the end of October – the busiest time for Tayside house parties – police were attending more than 50 gatherings a week.

But new figures have shown the breaches are slowly reducing and stayed at just under 50 per week throughout November.