Calm Down

Or prepare for lockdown law says Sturgeon

- Vivienne Aitken

Nicola Sturgeon threatened “lockdown law” after a weekend of widespread flouting of coronavirus rules in Scotland.

The First Minister revealed that Police Scotland issued 797 dispersals orders on Saturday after lockdown rules were relaxed on Friday.

That was five times the number of dispersals the previous Saturday.

Sturgeon also said Transport Scotland figures showed there were 60 per cent more cars on the road on Saturday and 70 per cent more on Sunday than the previous week.

While she praised the “majority” of Scots for adhering to the rules under lockdown easing, she was critical of those who flouted the guidance.

And she said she would bring in legislation on lockdown if the rule-breaking continued.

The First Minister warned: “I have a duty to be clear with you. If there is continued evidence of even a minority not abiding by these guidelines . . . we will have to put these restrictions on group size or travel distance into law.

“We won’t hesitate to do that if we think it is for the collective safety and wellbeing of the population.”