Meadows incident: Nicola Sturgeon brands scenes of mass gathering and brawls at Edinburgh beauty spot 'considerable concern' as covid restrictions are relaxed

Scenes of hundreds of people gathering at the Meadows over the weekend are of “considerable concern”, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Speaking at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh the First Minister said police officers should not have to disperse crowds, after a video surfaced of a major fight between young people at the park.

The First Minister said: “I know the restrictions remain really tough and I know why people want to meet up in larger groups, I think we all have a desperate desire to see more of our friends and family.

“But the fact remains, the best way for all of us to be able to do that, in the hopefully near future is to keep those case numbers as low as possible as the vaccination programme continues to gather pace.

Scenes on the Meadows in Edinburgh are of “considerable concern”, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

“The best way to do that for all of us is to try to take the sensible precautions and abide by all of the advice that is in place.”

Following the scenes at the Meadows on Saturday, April, 3, an Edinburgh police officers was taken to hospital with facial injuries.

David Hamilton, Chair of the Scottish Police Federation said: "Police Officers didn't write these health regulations but for the last year we have been asked to enforce them for the protection of all.

“Public hostilities towards the restrictions were foreseeable and have been growing for some time.

"They have increasingly culminated with some in our society taking out their anger and frustrations on Police officers.”

Scottish Parliament hopeful, Alex Orr, has revealed plans to hold a ‘Meadows summit’ - after witnessing the anti-social behaviour over the weekend, saying that people have “had enough”.

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