Edinburgh see five arrested and 32 fined for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules

Chief Constable rules out patrolling supermarket aisles
Police say they will enforce the laws if necessaryPolice say they will enforce the laws if necessary
Police say they will enforce the laws if necessary

FIVE people in Edinburgh have been arrested for flouting lockdown rules over the past two weeks.

Another 32 have been fined and in a further three cases police used “reasonable force” to return people to their homes.

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Over the same period - from March 27 to April 9 - police said 106 people in the Capital dispersed on request and another 22 after being warned.

Across Scotland, a total of 35 were arrested and 537 fined,

Appearing at the daily briefing alongside First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “I am pleased to report that the vast majority of people in Scotland are in fact continuing to do the right thing during this acute health emergency and thank them for that.

“Of course, community policing across Scotland has a vital role to play as we all make the daily changes and personal sacrifices needed to combat the spread of coronavirus. With the continued support and co-operation of our fellow citizens, Police Scotland will explain the legal instructions, encourage compliance, and when needed, enforce the law.

“Since the emergency powers came into effect two weeks ago, we have been required to take enforcement action in limited situations. Thus far, across the whole of the country, we have issued over 500 fixed penalty notices.

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“This has typically been during incidents where people do not comply with legal instructions even after being spoken to by officers - for example, house parties or gatherings in public where those involved refuse to disperse.”

He said one occasion saw police visit a house in the Borders where people had gathered in breach of Covid-19 lockdown measures. The group did not comply with officers’ instructions and a number of people were arrested and others were given fixed penalty notices.

Asked if his officers would be patrolling in supermarkets to ensure only essential goods were being purchased, as some forces in England have reportedly done, he said: “I would not expect patrolling of supermarket aisles. I would expect our officers to be visible, to be engaged with people wherever they happen to be, but I would not expect such prescriptive action.”