POLICE in Argyll and West Dunbartonshire have issued nine fixed penalty notices in the first six days of new regulations on social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak.
Officers in the division, which covers all of the Helensburgh and Lomond area as well as the whole of the Argyll and Bute Council and West Dunbartonshire areas, handed out one in 16 of the 144 penalty notices issued across Scotland between March 27 and April 1.
Police Scotland says that while the "vast majority" of people were complying with social distancing instructions, a small number were found to have "persistently flouted the regulations or refused to co-operate with requests to comply".
Earlier this week, the Helensburgh and Lomond area's senior officer, Inspector Roddy MacNeill, told the Advertiser that local officers had not had to deal with anyone deliberately coughing on officers, and said compliance in the area with the government guidelines had been good so far.
That was not the case everywhere else: announcing the new figures, police said that fixed penalties were given to three men found in a van in Paisley who had "no reasonable excuse" to be together, and "who said they had no intention of adhering to the regulations".
And in Aberdeen, six penalty notices were issued following a report of a house party where the occupants refused to desist.
Under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, police officers can close businesses and premises which flout the government’s guidance.
The regulations give officers the power to enforce social distancing among the wider public, with the sanction of penalty notices where there has been an offence.
Police Scotland can issue penalty notices of £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 28 days, where they have reason to believe there has been an offence under the regulations.
Thanking the public for their "overwhelming support and co-operation", Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “People recognise that it is their duty to adhere to these guidelines to protect their fellow citizens, ease the strain on the health service, and collectively save lives.
“Everyone must contribute to the national effort to respond to the coronavirus outbreak and I am grateful to the vast majority who have made significant changes to their daily habits and routines.
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“I expect the high levels of co-operation to continue as awareness and understanding of the guidance increases. Stay indoors, stay safe, protect the NHS, and save lives.
“The Police Service of Scotland will continue to play its part, engaging with people, establishing their individual circumstances and explaining the risks to public health of failing to comply with guidance.
“Officers and the public must take a common sense approach to this unique emergency.
“We will always encourage compliance but, as a last resort, we will use the enforcement powers which are in place.
“I am clear that policing in Scotland gains its legitimacy and authority from the consent and support of the public. Everything we do will be done in a fair, reasonable, and proportionate manner.”
Due to the exceptional nature of these powers, the regulations will be reviewed at least every 21 days to ensure they are still necessary.
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Justice secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Everyone should be staying at home wherever possible and I am hugely encouraged by the high levels of compliance around the country after the first week of these rules being in force.
“These rules are in place to slow down the spread of COVID-19 which will protect the NHS and save lives.
"While Police Scotland have powers of enforcement, I expect that these will be used only as a last resort, and that the vast majority of people will use their common sense and play a full part in this country-wide effort.”
Scotland's national clinical director Jason Leitch said: “The best way of slowing down the spread of coronavirus is social distancing, so I must thank Police Scotland for working with members of the public to keep them safe and encourage them to comply with these regulations.
“I would remind everyone that if you do have to leave your house for any of the essential reasons – food, medicine, care, exercise or work, and you absolutely cannot do them at home – then please stay two metres away from people you don’t live with, and keep human contact as limited as possible.”
READ MORE: Click here for all the latest Helensburgh and Lomond news headlines
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The divisional breakdown of fixed penalty notices issued across Scotland from March 27 to April 1 is as follows.
A (North East) – 20
C (Forth Valley) – 6
D (Tayside) – 1
E (Edinburgh) – 4
G (Greater Glasgow) – 46
J (Lothians and Scottish Borders) – 9
K (Renfrewshire and Inverclyde) – 8
L (Argyll and West Dunbartonshire) – 9
N (Highlands and Islands) – 1
P (Fife) – 4
Q (Lanarkshire) – 17
U (Ayrshire) – 18
V (Dumfries and Galloway) – 1
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