Over 1000 arrests made in Scotland during first weekend of lockdown relaxations

Over 1000 arrests have been made in Scotland during the first weekend of lockdown relaxations.

None of those were directly in relation to Covid-19, but police say there was a rise in crime due to more of us being out and about.

Officers issued 1,391 dispersal notices, with around 800 of those on Saturday alone.

Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr said: “The increase in people out and about following the relaxing of some of the restrictions has seen a rise in crime levels, reflected in the number of arrests over the weekend.

“The efforts of officers and staff throughout this challenging pandemic has been extraordinary and policing continues in all our communities as we face increasing demands on the service.

“The figures from the last 72 hours – high numbers of dispersals and no arrests relating to coronavirus– show how we are continuing to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance and encourage compliance. We will only use enforcement as a last resort only where there is a clear breach of the legislation, and our overall approach will continue to be one based on common sense and discretion.

"The Regulations remain that people should only leave the house for very limited purposes, for example for basic necessities, for exercise or recreation, for medical needs or travelling for work which cannot be done from home.

"The Chief Constable has also made it clear that we are asking people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of these measures is to aid the collective effort to protect the NHS and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading. This is a responsibility on us all, and one that we all have a civic duty to take seriously.

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