Shandwick Place illegal funeral wake: Police ‘dramatic’ response following funeral wake as 12 police cars seen responding to the incident

On Thursday night, April 15, police broke up an illegal funeral wake on Shandwick Place.

They charged three men aged 32, 34 and 37 and issued fixed penalty notices to 12 people.

However, an eye witness has said that the response from the police seemed ‘dramatic’ as they counted 12 police cars including a couple of plain clothes officers attending the scene.

Police Scotland confirmed that their heavy presence there was only in relation to the illegal funeral wake incident and they were not responding to any other incident at the time.

One person who walked past the scene on Thursday night, said: "As I was walking away, more cars came flying to the street. In total I counted 12 - including a couple of plain clothes.

"The urgency, literally sprinting from the cars into the stair I’d have thought there was something really serious and dangerous happening. I’m not saying a Covid gathering isn’t serious, it was just pretty dramatic."

A police spokesperson said: “Police were called around 10.20pm on Thursday, 15 April, 2021 following the report of a breach of coronavirus regulations at a property in Shandwick Place, Edinburgh.

“Officers attended and three men aged 32, 34, and 37 were arrested and charged in connection with the incident and are due to appear at court at a later date.

“There were a further 12 fixed penalty notices issued.”

As three men have been charged, police cannot comment further on the nature of the wake.

The news comes as meeting other households indoors is still banned in Scotland in a bid to stop transmission.

Only 20 people are currently able to attend funeral services but wakes are not allowed.

It is hoped that wakes will be permitted, with up to 50 people, when restrictions are eased under level 3 of lockdown easing on April 26.

However, this will be dependent on suppression of the virus and transmission rates.

Meeting other households indoors in private dwellings will only be allowed once authorities move into level two of lockdown easing, which it is hoped will happen on May 17.

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