Speaking during a virtual meeting of the Scottish Parliament Justice Sub Committee on Policing on Tuesday, chairman of the independent advisory group on police use of temporary powers related to the coronavirus crisis John Scott QC said the different restrictions north and south of the border had caused some confusion.
He was responding to a question from James Kelly MSP who asked about overall levels of public compliance with lockdown restrictions, which have now been in place for more than 11 weeks.
He said: “The longer this goes on and obviously with the easing of restrictions, I do not think it is so much people getting to the stage of saying we have had enough of it but people do not necessarily understand where the easing of restrictions is, that has been despite serious efforts to be clear on this.
“That is where differences south of the border in easing restrictions and north of the border can cause some complications.
“We were speaking to a divisional commander in Dumfries yesterday who said some of the people travelling up from England thought everything had changed only to be told, in an engagement manner, it had not happened here in Scotland.
“I can understand how the public can get that wrong because easing is happening at different paces in different places.”
Mr Scott attributed some of this fusion to the UK Government often forgetting to add a “caveat” to their easing of restrictions making it clear that they only apply in England.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has also highlighted a lack of co-operation and co-ordination between the UK and Scottish Government and the resulting confusion. He this week flagged up the different rules about face coverings on public transport in England and Scotland, which will be compulsory south of the border from June 15. However, in Scotland passengers are only ‘strongly encouraged’ to wear a mask.
Mr Smyth said: “The issue of mandatory face coverings has once again revealed the glaring lack of co-operation and co-ordination which exists between the Scottish and UK Governments. As things stand right now, passengers could get on a train or coach in Scotland without a face mask but then be required to put one on as soon as they pass over the border. Under this guidance there is nothing to stop anyone getting on public transport in Scotland without a face covering, not just those who cannot wear face coverings for practical reasons.
“Once again, the Scottish and UK Government have shown they are not working together on cross-border issues.”
