Top Scottish lawyer brands airport quarantine guidance 'a mess'
John Scott QC has also suggested the new UK Government measures are 'unenforceable'
One of Scotland’s leading QCs is branding new quarantine rules as “a mess” and “unenforceable”.
They came into play yesterday and require most people arriving into the UK to self-isolate for 14 days.
John Scott QC, the chairman of the independent advisory group on police use of temporary powers related to the coronavirus crisis, is unhappy the new regulations on people arriving in Scotland from abroad were not published until Sunday. Mr Scott claims there would not be enough time for the public or police to “digest” what the new rules are.
The regulations are largely similar to those in the rest of the UK, meaning those coming into the country will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days or face a £480 fine.
He said: “The quarantine regulations, speaking personally here, I think are a mess.
“I do not understand them - they appear to be unenforceable.”
UK Government regulations were published last Wednesday, prompting Mr Scott to question why the largely similar rule in Scotland were not made public at the same time.
He added: “You can't introduce new powers without giving the agency who is supposed to be enforcing them, even as a back stop, enough time to work out what they're meant to be doing and disseminating as much training as they can in a short period of time.”
Appearing before the Justice Sub-committee on Policing at Holyrood, Mr Scott said the Scottish Government had acted more urgently than necessary.
Chief constable Iain Livingstone, who also appeared before the committee on Tuesday, said Police Scotland staff are still drawing up guidance for officers.
He said: “It's been difficult for the legislation to be implemented, the speed of it has been a challenge and the awareness and understanding of it.
“We're still working today, this very morning I was speaking to some of my senior colleagues who were in the process of providing guidance for officers and staff with regards to the regulations, albeit they came into force yesterday.”
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