Sturgeon could hand police more powers to break up house parties over fears of virus link

Police could be handed new powers to break up house parties, after evidence emerged to show that coronavirus was spreading at illegal indoor gatherings.

Nicola Sturgeon said she had seen data suggesting that house parties had become a “concern” and presented a “considerable risk” of the infection spreading throughout the population.

Covid-19 cases across Scotland have risen considerably over recent weeks, and on Thursday, the First Minister suggested that the crucial R number - meaning the number of people one person with the infection would typically pass it on to - had risen above one.

While indoor gatherings of more than three households are illegal, police officers have previously warned that the inability to enter homes where a house party is ongoing have hampered efforts to break up the gatherings.

The Association of Police Superintendents has said that on some occasions “prolonged siege-like incidents” had developed after police arrived at homes where parties were taking place, but those indoors refused to listen to officers' instructions.

Asked about the potential for handing police more powers to tackle gatherings, Ms Sturgeon said this would be considered. She also suggested that current advice which is not backed up by law, for example a limit of eight people from different households being indoors at any one time, could become a legally-enforceable rule.

“Where we think it is necessary we will not hesitate to increase the ability of the police to enforce,” she said. “We made face coverings mandatory, we’re about to make the collection of customer details in pubs and restaurants mandatory where previously it was guidance, so we will always look, where there is a problem with compliance, of toughening up the enforcement powers.

“But, when we have to do that, I think it’s always second best from a situation where people are complying because it’s the right thing to do. Particularly in people’s own homes, there is always going to be a common sense limit, the police can’t be in everybody’s home, checking you’re not breaking the rules.”

The link to house parties follows the suggestion that the reopening of the hospitality sector, and in particular pubs and bars, have been a factor in a recent rise in cases. In Aberdeen, the hospitality sector is in its second week of an enforced closure after a major outbreak was linked to pubs.

Ms Sturgeon said her “strong appeal” to avoid house parties was targeted particularly at young people, who have previously been accused of failing to observe social distancing rules.

Concern has previously also been raised that drunk people find it harder to observe infection prevention rules. John Apter, chairman of the UK Police Federation, warned last month that it was “crystal clear” that drunken revellers would not adhere to distancing rules, which are one metre in the venues, rather than two in most other locations.

Calum Steele, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said new powers would allow police to “do more” but backed Ms Sturgeon’s call for the public to abide by the rules voluntarily.

He said: “The simple truth in all of this is that this virus cannot be policed out of existence. It has to be a community response.

“We only need to look at the events of the past couple of days, where there’s been a major incident in the north east and horrific weather, which diverts police resources to responding to those kind of things.

“That makes the point, very graphically, that there will always be things for the police to do. While more powers will give the police the ability to do more, it’s not going to be the solution to a problem of community non-compliance.”