Police in East Lothian have asked locals to stop contacting them to report visitors to the region’s beaches breaking social distancing guidance, after being inundated with calls.
Officers have warned they will be strictly patrolling areas of the popular coastline over the weekend, with temperatures expected to soar - tempting many people to head for the beach despite lockdown being enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the force say they are equipped to deal with such events and asked residents in the area not to report incidents after being inundated with calls.
A statement posted on Facebook by chief inspector Neil Mitchell read: “We are patrolling the beaches and parks, visiting them sometimes 5 or 6 times a day, engaging with visitors and checking car parks and
approach roads. Some cars have been given parking tickets and some people have been asked to leave the areas and this is right.
“You do not need to phone us to report these as we are dealing with them throughout the day.
“If you are out, expect to meet my officers or other officials who may ask you some questions. Please engage with them and take direction if required, although we can issue fixed penalty ticket we do not want to do this.”
Mr Mitchell added that additional resources including police horses and quad bikes would be deployed across the region this weekend.
Figures released by Police Scotland on Friday revealed two people in the Lothians had been arrested for not following government-issued guidance on lockdown.
Over 100 people have been ‘returned home using force’ since police were handed extra powers to deal with those breaching social distancing measures during the pandemic.
