Rise in number of people being moved on by police in Falkirk as lockdown eases

Only one fine was issued by police in Falkirk to someone breaking lockdown rules in the first week after restrictions were eased.

However there was an increase in the number of groups of people officers had to ask to disperse.

Figures on the use of emergency coronavirus powers, issued by Police Scotland, show fixed penalty notices handed out by officers as well as the number of people arrested for flouting the government’s restrictions and the number of people asked to disperse from larger groups.

From May 28 – the day the First Minister announced Scotland was entering phase one of the routemap and some restrictions would be eased – to June 3, officers locally issued just one fixed penalty notice and made no arrests in relation to the matter.

In the seven days prior to May 28 they had arrested one and issued two fines.

Across the Falkirk district according to the latest figures – which are indicative and may not include all incidents – 67 people were dispersed after being “informed”, while a further 33 moved on after being “instructed” to do so by officers – that’s compared to 18 and one respectively during the previous week.

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