Walkers in Edinburgh have been threatened with fines after driving to beauty spots in the capital over the weekend.
The UK went into lockdown a week over a week ago and, while people are allowed to walk their dogs and enjoy a daily dose of exercise, they cannot drive to the location first.
However, as reported by Edinburgh Live, some residents have been flouting the rules as people parked up at the seaside, with photos showing dozens of cars along Silverknowes Parkway on Sunday.
It has now emerged that squads of officers have been using their new powers, which are designed to curb the spread of coronavirus, while patrolling Silverknowes and Cramond promenade over the weekend.
Officers targeted drivers arriving in the area, sending away those who were not local and were therefore in breach of lockdown rules.
One man, said to be in his sixties, was even served with a fixed penalty notice after shouting at officers. According to the Daily Mail, he reportedly asked: "What is this, China?"
Fines start at £60 but can be reduced to £30 if paid within 28 days, though they can also jump to up to £960 for repeat offenders who continuously ignore the rules.
Over the weekend, 25 Scots in total were issued with fixed penalty notices for a number of rule-breaking activities, which included house parties and other large gatherings.
Despite the call outs, Police Scotland's Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham insisted that the majority of people were complying with the measures.
He said: “We’ve had high visibility patrols in place right across the country since we were given these enforcement powers.
“But it’s clear that the vast majority of people are complying with the measures. They know the message is to stay at home, and by and large, they’re doing that."
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