Kirkhill House: Police chief issues warning after 300 people attend Midlothian house party
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The Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland has issued a stern warning to the public ahead of the weekend after it was revealed that more than 300 people were caught at a paid-for party in a Midlothian mansion last weekend.
Speaking to Good Morning Scotland, Malcolm Graham said people “should be shocked” by the risk taken by partygoers, and called the event “a blatant disregard for the law” and for rules designed “to help save lives, and prevent the spread of coronavirus.”
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Hide Ad“The message for this weekend ahead is don't have a party,” he warned, “the law is really clear and the advice is really clear about why that is necessary.”
Hundreds of house parties
Yesterday it emerged that Police Scotland officers were called to more than 300 house parties over the course of last weekend.
DCC Graham insisted that “the vast majority of people” are sticking to social distancing measures, which he claimed was why so many “felt the need to phone us up...to report that they felt people weren’t complying with the law.”
He also revealed that of those who had attended the 300 illegal house parties across Scotland last weekend, just 10 people had been fined by police.
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Hide AdDCC Graham signalled that more fines could follow, telling BBC Good Morning Scotland that investigations were still ongoing into the house parties.
“I would emphasise the point that this is about people taking personal responsibility,” he added.
300-strong Midlothian party
Police raided Kirkhill House in Midlothian at 12:30am on Sunday, and discovered more than 300 people attending a paid-for event in the property.
The host of the mansion, who is a keyholder acting on behalf of the owner, said the party’s organisers told him they were a family group of six adults and completed all necessary Track and Trace procedures.
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Hide Ad"The owner received a reservation request for a family gathering of ten people, three of which were children,” he said.
"We had no indication that this was going to be anything other than a normal family gathering that we have time and time again.
“The guests completed a declaration that they would comply with Covid regulations and the associated guidance. Track and Trace was completed.
"We were completely happy, and we had absolutely no indication that this would be anything other than a normal reservation for us.”
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Hide AdBut after being told about the party by police, the host went to the mansion and “found chaos and carnage.”
Yesterday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned the party-goers, tweeting: “It’s hard to put into words how utterly irresponsible this kind of behaviour is in current circumstances.
"It puts people at risk and threatens our progress out of lockdown. PLEASE do not attend house parties just now.”
Police Scotland said a 29-year-old man arrested in connection with the event had been issued with a fixed penalty notice.