Borders MSP calling for tougher action over face coverings

The Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP advocated tougher enforcement action after raising the issue with Nicola Sturgeon at first minister’s questions in the Scottish Parliament last week.

“With Covid creep all too evident, bus drivers, store managers, shop assistants and the public often feel helpless about, and exasperated by, the flouting of the rules on using face coverings by what is, in my view, a growing minority,” she said.

She then asked Ms Sturgeon: “Is the Scottish Government considering upping the ante by requiring individuals to provide evidence of exemption and providing for stiffer fines?

“Both approaches would deter non-compliance, assist the police and provide added protection for the travelling and shopping public, thereby releasing shop managers, shop assistants and bus drivers from the pressure that is sometimes put on them to do something.”

Ms Grahame also asked how many fines have been issued for failing to comply with face covering rules since they became enforceable by the police on July 10 and was told the answer was 20, as of August 25.

The first minister, MSP for Glasgow Southside, told her: “Enforcement of the coronavirus regulations is a matter for Police Scotland.

“The police have indicated that, to date, the vast majority of people are complying with the regulations, as we would expect.

“Enforcement has always been a last resort. Engagement, explanation and encouragement to comply are the first priorities, and enforcement action is taken when those fail.

“The police must continue to act with discretion, as they have been doing.

“On Christine Grahame’s question about amending the enforcement regime, we will keep that under review in a general sense. We have changed areas of enforcement on previous occasions, and we will always consider doing that if we think that it is necessary. Levels of fixed-penalty fines for non-compliance are something that we can consider.

“We have to continue to respond sensitively to people who have health reasons for not wearing face coverings.

“We can and will have enforcement regimes in place, but the fundamental point is that we all have a duty to do the right things for the right reasons and not simply because the law says that we have to do them.

“Given that we have been living with Covid for six months now, I think that it is harder for all of us, and I include myself in that.

“These things are a real pain to have to comply with, and perhaps some of us, at times, do not take as much care as we should take.

“We all have to remind ourselves of why these things are being advised and make sure that we comply at all stages.”

“The vast majority of people are complying on face coverings, but I would urge anybody who is not complying without a good reason to really think about it, because wearing a face covering protects other people and other people wearing a face covering protects you.

“It is one of the best expressions of the collective solidarity that will get us through the crisis.”