DON'T ease lockdown on a Friday — or risk thousands of breaches, the Scottish Greens have urged ministers.
More than 1000 arrests took place and around 800 dispersal orders were issued by police under emergency coronavirus laws.
This followed the Friday easing of restrictions as the country officially entered Phase One of the Scottish Government's routemap out of the crisis.
Residents in beauty spots like Luss on Loch Lomondside were appalled to see crowds of daytrippers enter their communities.
That's despite the a five-mile limit on travel, a curb on meeting members of more than one household at a time and the continuation of social distancing measures.
Green MSP Ross Greer, who represents Luss and other Loch Lomond communities "badly affected" by antisocial behaviour at the weekend, has now asked Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell to ensure future changes in lockdown rules are made earlier in the week.
Greer hopes that this will deter a repeat of the weekend's events by allowing the message that lockdown is not over to be repeated before Friday night comes round.
READ MORE: Greens call for BBC to stop showing 'confusing' UK briefing to Scots
Responding to Greer’s proposal at Holyrood’s Covid Committee, Russell confirmed that he would consider it.
Commenting, Greer said: “Clearly the relaxation of lockdown restrictions immediately before the weekend led to confusion over what was and was not allowed.
"That resulted in dangerous situations emerging across the country, particularly at Loch Lomond.
"As the lockdown is eased public health messaging will become more complicated, so it’s essential that there is time to reinforce and explain each change ahead of weekends where people will be looking to go out and exercise their new freedoms.
"Police Scotland’s deputy chief constable said on Good Morning Scotland that further legally-binding restrictions would be 'impractical' for officers who are already busy, so clear public messaging needs to be the priority. Moving announcements to earlier in the week is the easiest way to make that possible."
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