Question reference: S5W-32774
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 27 October 2020
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 November 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 Strategic Framework, how it will consult on extending police powers to enable officers to enter homes to enforce indoor household meeting restrictions.
Answer
Further to the COVID-19 Strategic Framework, and in keeping with the move to a levels based approach, Regulation 6 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 provides a power of entry for all “relevant persons”, along with detailed conditions as to how and when that power may be exercised.
The Scottish Government has informally consulted with public bodies and other relevant stakeholders affected by the levels-based approach, which the Regulations implement, including Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and Local Authorities.
As with the other measures taken to tackle the public health emergency, Regulation 6 will be in place for no longer than is justified and, like the other Regulations currently in force, will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Police Scotland continue to apply the 4Es approach of Engagement, Explanation, Encouragement with Enforcement only as a last resort, and has reported that, to date, compliance with the Regulations has generally been good.