POLICE will "engage" with people on the move when a blanket travel ban is brought in across Scotland, the country's most senior police officer has said.
Chief Constable of Police Scotland Iain Livingstone issued the warning in wake of tough measures – including a national travel ban – announced to stop a more infectious strain of the coronavirus taking hold after an upsurge in cases in London and the south east of England.
Speaking at the Scottish Government's daily briefing on the pandemic, Livingstone said there would be an increase in officers' patrols across the country to enforce the travel ban and warned Scots "don't chance it".
Currently travel is not permitted from Scotland to the rest of the UK or the Irish Republic apart from limited exemptions such as for work and caring duties and also in and out of level 3 areas.
In addition from Boxing Day morning all of mainland Scotland will be placed on level 4 restrictions with travel banned across the whole country including to and from the island communities which will be placed then on level 3.
"In terms of the increase in presence that people will see right across Scotland but particularly in the Border country and ... Dumfries and Galloway there will be a significant increase in visible presence," said Livingstone.
"I also expect there to be a reduction ... in the public being on the roads and moving around and therefore my expectation, my hope and my intent in terms of doubling the number of resources is that you will see a really significant impact.
"And if anybody has any sense that actually I am going to chance it ... what I would say is 'don't do that' ... not because you'll get stopped by the police, though you might. We will be visible and we will be engaging with people who are on the move. Don't chance because you'll be putting other people at risk."
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said warned officers will engage with people 'on the move' in Scotland.
An existing travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK was due to ease from December 23 to December 27 but will now remain in place throughout the Christmas holidays due to fears over the new virus strain which is 70% more infectious than previous strains.
Some 17 cases of the new coronavirus variant have been recorded in Scotland to date, mostly in the Glasgow area.
In a statement released yesterday, Livingstone said it would not be “appropriate or proportionate for officers to establish checkpoints or roadblocks to simply enforce travel restrictions”.
But he added: “Today, I have authorised the doubling of our operational presence in the Border areas of Scotland. These highly visible patrols will be proactively deployed on our road networks to continue our operational activity to ensure drivers and vehicles are in a fit condition to drive.
“The patrols will also deter anyone who might be considering breaching the coronavirus travel restrictions.”
He said he expects roads to be “quieter than usual over the coming days”.
“We have been clear throughout this public health crisis that your police service is here to support our collective effort to combat coronavirus. Though the rules have changed often and, at times, quickly, officers and staff will continue with common sense, empathy and discretion to work with our fellow citizens to help keep everyone safe.
“It is the consent of the public from which policing in Scotland draws its legitimacy. As our communities expect, where officers encounter wilful, persistent or flagrant breaches we will act decisively to enforce the law.”
Boris Johnson also placed London and most of the south east of England under the toughest tier 4 curbs there amid fears the new mutation was responsible for an increasing number of infections.
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