Covid-19 social distancing enforcement measures are now in place. These new powers will help ensure compliance and save lives.

Businesses and the public in Scotland are now required by law to follow necessary social distancing measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The Scottish Government is using powers from the UK Coronavirus Bill to make it a criminal offence to flout the strict public health guidance that is helping save lives.

To enforce social distancing, people in Scotland are being asked to only go outside if they have a ‘reasonable excuse’. These include shopping for necessary food, household and medical supplies, travelling to and from work where working from home is not an option, and daily exercise that adheres to social distancing guidance.

The regulations include powers to enable Police Scotland to enforce restrictions on movement of people outside their place of residence and to disperse gatherings. This includes the ability to remove people who are outside their home without a reasonable excuse if the police officer has reason to believe it is a necessary and proportionate means of ensuring compliance

Read Scottish Government news story  |  Read the Regulations

Following Royal Assent of the UK Coronavirus Bill, the Scottish regulations came into force on 26 March and will be laid in the Scottish Parliament on 27 March. The UK Government also laid English regulations on 26 March which are intended to, in the main, have the same effect as the Scottish regulations. All regulations will expire in six months’ time. 

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