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| Covid in Scotland: Police break up hundreds of house parties | Covid in Scotland: Police break up hundreds of house parties |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police broke up "at least" 300 house parties across Scotland over the weekend, with 14 arrests being made. | Police broke up "at least" 300 house parties across Scotland over the weekend, with 14 arrests being made. |
| More than 100 fines were issued between Friday and Sunday, with officers having to force entry to three households. | More than 100 fines were issued between Friday and Sunday, with officers having to force entry to three households. |
| Police Scotland said its analysis suggested house parties were being held "in every community and age group". | Police Scotland said its analysis suggested house parties were being held "in every community and age group". |
| Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said most people were following the rules - but "decisive action" would be taken where necessary. | Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said most people were following the rules - but "decisive action" would be taken where necessary. |
| New rules barring people from different households from meeting in their homes have been introduced in Scotland in response to increasing numbers of Covid cases. | |
| Pubs have also been ordered to close by 22:00, and additional police officers were sent out to support councils over the first weekend of the new restrictions. | Pubs have also been ordered to close by 22:00, and additional police officers were sent out to support councils over the first weekend of the new restrictions. |
| Mr Livingstone said officers would "use good sense and exercise discretion", and that "the great majority of people are taking personal responsibility to do the right thing". | Mr Livingstone said officers would "use good sense and exercise discretion", and that "the great majority of people are taking personal responsibility to do the right thing". |
| But he added: "There can be no excuse for arranging, attending, or hosting a house party. | But he added: "There can be no excuse for arranging, attending, or hosting a house party. |
| "It is against the law. Where officers encounter blatant, wilful, or persistent breaches, we will take decisive action to enforce the law." | "It is against the law. Where officers encounter blatant, wilful, or persistent breaches, we will take decisive action to enforce the law." |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the figures had to be seen in the context of a country with a population of 5.4 million people. | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the figures had to be seen in the context of a country with a population of 5.4 million people. |
| She said "the vast majority" were abiding by the rules. | She said "the vast majority" were abiding by the rules. |
| "Anybody who is not, and particularly anybody who are flagrantly breaking very clear rules against house parties, should really take a look at themselves," she added. | |
| "We know that house parties are one of the risk factors that can cause this virus to spread." | "We know that house parties are one of the risk factors that can cause this virus to spread." |
| While officers were called to a number of parties at student halls in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon stressed that the issue with indoor gatherings was not just about young people. | While officers were called to a number of parties at student halls in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon stressed that the issue with indoor gatherings was not just about young people. |
| Mr Livingstone said on Friday that analysis suggested that only one in 10 house parties police responded to had been linked to students. | Mr Livingstone said on Friday that analysis suggested that only one in 10 house parties police responded to had been linked to students. |