THE Chief Constable has told Scots his officers will take a “common sense” approach when it comes to enforcing tough new coronavirus lockdown powers.
Police Scotland can now slap on-the-spot fines of up to £60 on anyone older than 16 found to be breaking the Government’s strict social distancing rules.
The levy will drop to £30 if they are not paid within 28 days, but if they’re caught a second time they'll get a second fixed penalty notice of £120.
If caught a third time they’ll be fined £240, a fourth time £480, and a fifth time they’ll be asked to pay the maximum of £960.
Enforcement can also be used against businesses and venues that have been told to close.
On Thursday night, before the new powers came into force, Police Scotland revealed they issued four men with anti-social behaviour tickets after an aerial thermal imaging camera spotted them congregating in Pollok Park, Glasgow.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Where in Scotland is Covid-19 most prevalent?
Asked about this on BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, Iain Livingstone said: “The issue of younger people who will undoubtedly be getting a bit stir crazy having to remain at home – we know naturally they like to congregate in larger groups at that age.
“I would encourage them, and their parents, their carers and everyone, to try to use the multitude of mechanisms now to maintain contact.
“Whether it’s Houseparty ... all sorts of apps that I have discovered in the last two or three days, that allow people to keep in touch and keep in contact.
“I do recognise there’s a need for people to maintain social contact, it’s important for mental health and their own well-being to maintain relationships.
“But it can’t be done in public.”
He said that compliance levels had been “fantastic” so far but there would be some people who did not comply.
He said: “Therefore, I do welcome the fact there is now a lawful framework to enforce these guidelines if they are needed.
“To be brutally frank, there needs to be a lot of common sense applied, this is an extraordinary time.”
Livingstone added: “The key issue is for people to comply with the guidance that has been issued.
“Not because potentially you end up having a fixed penalty notice, the reason to do it is to keep everyone safe.”
The new regulations also list the “reasonable excuses” that can be used to leave the house.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: BBC posts foul-mouthed warning featuring Malcolm Tucker
As expected, they include obtaining basic necessities, including food and medical supplies, taking exercise either alone or with other members of their household, providing care or assistance to a vulnerable person, attending the funeral of a close family member and travelling for the purposes of work when it’s not “reasonably possible” to work from home.
However, the regulations also say it's okay to leave the house to donate blood, to attend court, and to move house “where reasonably necessary”.
Separated families can also “continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children”.
Asked about the new measures at Thursday’s coronavirus briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the decision hadn’t been taken lightly.
“I don’t relish standing here as First Minister – and I’m sure the same is true of the Prime Minister and the first ministers of the other nations in the UK – asking people to impose such significant restrictions on their own freedoms and way of life,” she said.
“And I certainly don’t relish being in a position where we have to have powers to enforce that, if necessary.
“We are doing that because the price of not doing that is even more significant and will be paid in the lives of many people who will die from this virus.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel