Police will use new powers of arrest to deal with people flouting virus rules

Iain Livingstone said the vast majority of people are obeying coronavirus guidance to stay at home, with "overwhelming levels of compliance" from the public since lockdown began.

Scotland’s top police officer made the comments before First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed new emergency legislation had received Royal Assent, and police could now fine or arrest those breaching coronavirus guidance.

Mr Livingstone said most people were heeding the advice, despite a few cases of "extreme" behaviour, such as a woman accused of deliberately coughing at police officers.

"In the first couple of days since the announcement on Monday night, we have seen overwhelming levels of compliance," he said. "We have seen citizens of Scotland, indeed right across the UK, standing up, listening to that advice."

When people are found to be flouting the rules, Mr Livingstone said officers have been speaking to them "to make it very, very clear what the expectations are and why they need to comply with those requirements".

He added: "If they refuse, as I understand some of the legislation that's going to be implemented we would have power to instruct them to return home and to use reasonable force if required.

"If there is continued defiance, the absolute back-stop of a power of arrest. I would expect that to be used very, very infrequently, if at all, but I do think it is important that people know that that power is there."

Commenting on reports of a woman arrested for allegedly coughing on police, Mr Livingstone said: "Unfortunately people will manifest behaviours that are extreme.

"We do recognise that this is a really challenging time for everybody across the country. People are having to readjust their daily habits, their work habits, their personal routines and, in some ways, we have to be reasonable in that regard. Everything that we do, will be done in a fair, reasonable and proportionate manner."