Police Scotland has revealed that their officers made six arrests in Lanarkshire under the new emergency powers introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Three other people were returned to their homes using “reasonable force” and 179 were handed fixed penalty notices for falling foul of the lockdown measures.
Further to that officers policing in Lanarkshire’s Q division area have dispersed another 180 people after speaking to them and informing them they were breaching the rules, or ordering them to go home.
The figures which cover the period from Friday, March 27 until 7am on Thursday, April 23 also reveal that Police Scotland made 78 arrests and issued a total of 1,637 fixed penalties across the country under the emergency powers, They also forcibly returned 111 people to their homes.
Despite the numbers Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham has praised the public for their cooperation during the lockdown but reiterated the stay at home message.
The deputy chief constable, who is the force’s strategic lead for their coronavirus response, said: “The people of Scotland have stepped forward during this public health emergency to do their part to protect the NHS and save lives.
"The message is clear – you should only leave the house for very limited purposes, for example for basic necessities, such as food and medicine, for daily exercise, for medical needs or travelling for work which cannot be done at home.
“Avoid driving as much as possible. Use spaces close to home for exercise and do not drive for leisure.
“Do not hold house parties with people from outwith your household.
“As these restrictions persist and the warm weather sustains, people must not be tempted to ignore that message.”
