Police make arrests after breaking up house gatherings across Scotland

Over last weekend, police in Scotland interrupted more than 300 house gatherings which contravened lockdown, issuing fines and making 24 arrests.
Officers dealt with a significant number of calls to house gatherings over the weekend. Photo: John DevlinOfficers dealt with a significant number of calls to house gatherings over the weekend. Photo: John Devlin
Officers dealt with a significant number of calls to house gatherings over the weekend. Photo: John Devlin

Most of the incidents involved small groups from different households meeting in homes, breaching the regulations designed to prevent spread of coronavirus.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “Officers dealt with a significant number of calls to house gatherings over the weekend and we have been quite clear that we will enforce the law where necessary, as the public would expect us to do.

“We are not just talking about large parties. The vast majority were smaller groups of different households meeting indoors.

“House gatherings of any size cause the virus to spread and we are asking people to do the right thing and take personal responsibility.

“I fully understand the implications the current restrictions have on our daily lives, but we cannot have people twisting the rules and disregarding the law which is there to stop the spread of coronavirus and help save lives.

“Anyone clearly breaking the law should be in no doubt that they will be met with a robust response from Police Scotland.”

Officers also dealt with several larger parties, for example around 100 people were gathered at a party within a rented property in Bonnybridge. Arriving soon after midnight on Saturday, police found a 48-seater party bus and several cars parked outside.

A 46-year-old man was charged with a breaching coronavirus regulations and fined. The 33-year old man, who organised the party, was charged with culpable and reckless conduct and is due at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Friday, November 27.

The bus driver was also fined and investigations continue to establish if any further offences occurred.

In the early hours of Sunday, 30 students at a house party in Edinburgh’s New Town area were all fined, while in Glasgow officers issued 64 penalty notices. A 26-year-old man was also charged with culpable and reckless conduct in connection with  an illegal Hallowe’en party at a warehouse in Hyde Park Street around 5.30pm on Sunday. Many people in attendance were not wearing masks or observing social distancing.

Police received more than 3,000 calls relating to noise and other disturbances between Friday and Sunday.