Stornoway woman has breached the Covid-19 rules about meeting indoors - FOUR times!

Police in the Western Isles have issued three Covid (Breach of Regulations) tickets to a female following officers attendance at a number of addresses in Stornoway over a 10-day period during January.
Police officers have found the woman in breach of Covid guidelines on four occasions now.Police officers have found the woman in breach of Covid guidelines on four occasions now.
Police officers have found the woman in breach of Covid guidelines on four occasions now.

The approach of officers has always been to Engage, Educate, Encourage and then, if required, undertake enforcement action which can include issuing tickets with fines for breaches of the Covid regulations.

On January 11 officers were called to an address in Stornoway in relation to an unrelated matter when they had cause to Engage, Educate and Encourage one of the persons present in relation to the Covid regulations and they left the address at that time having provided advice.

On January 14 officers were again called to attend at an address on an unrelated matter and the female was again present within the address, and that meant she had again breached the restrictions. As she had previously been warned about this she was issued with a ticket by officers.

A number of other persons also visiting that address were given guidance as per the regulations.

On January 17 officers once more attended on an unrelated matter at an address in Stornoway and traced the female who has been issued with a ticket a number of days before. As she had no reasonable excuse to have been at that address she was issued with a further ticket but this time for the higher amount as it was a second offence.

On January 21 officers were called to an address and within the house, again in breach of Covid regulations was the same female who had been issued two previous tickets. A male who had previously been warned about the regulations was also ticketed for a breach. As such officers issued the female with a third ticket for £120.00.

Western Isles Area Commander, Chief Inspector Ian Graham commented: “Officers have throughout the Covid pandemic either been called to numerous addresses with concerns about either possible breaches of the regulations or, while attending on unrelated matters have discovered persons present in breach of the regulations.

“My officers have spoken to those present and gone through the Engage, Educate and Encourage model which works extremely well. Many communities throughout the islands have come together to support the NHS and adhere to the regulations. “When officers find this approach has been unsuccessful they will issue fines as appropriate.

“I would like to reassure the public that the approach of the police has always been to support our NHS and CnES colleagues as they deal with the effects of the Covid pandemic and we continue to do so.”