Three Scots Arrested After Challenging Police Who Entered Home Over Suspected Lockdown Breach

In this file image, a police officer stands at Hampden Park National Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, on Dec. 20, 2020. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Three people were arrested in Scotland after they became irate and challenged the right of police officers to enter a home over a potential breach of CCP virus regulations.

Some of the incident was caught on video, which quickly spread on social media.

Scotland is currently under lockdown measures, with people not permitted to leave home except for certain “essential” reasons and are not allowed to enter each other’s homes.

Police Scotland said in a statement to The Epoch Times, “We received a report of an ongoing party in breach of coronavirus regulations at a property on Fonthill Road, Aberdeen, around 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 January, 2021.”

“Officers attended and two women (aged 18 and 48) and a 43-year-old man were charged in connection with assaulting police officers and threatening and abusive behaviour and will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.”

The statement made no mention of any legal actions taken for a breach of CCP virus regulations.

In the video, a woman can be seen in a hallway arguing with two police officers, one of whom is just inside the open doorway.

She challenges the officer’s right to enter her home. “My house. That is bullying. This is my house. Get out of my house. I did not ask you in here,” she says.

The officer says that they could force the door if she didn’t open it.

She tells him again to get out, pointing her finger at him.

“Threaten me again, and I'll arrest you for a breach of the peace,” says the officer.

A man then puts himself between the two as she continues to challenge the officer with aggressive language. Seconds later, the officer physically starts to engage with them both and then they move out of shot.

According to laws brought into force to try to stem the spread of the virus, police in Scotland can enter private homes if they think regulations are being breached.

The officers believed that there was a house party, according to  Scotland’s Chief Constable.

Police urge members of the public to stay off the frozen pond at Queens Park as sub-zero temperatures continue in Glasgow, Scotland, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

According to unconfirmed reports, however, a member of the household had returned from hospital,

Police Scotland have publicized an online portal for people to report suspected breaches of CCP virus rules by others.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said during a briefing today that he was aware of the incident, and that he was satisfied that the response was justified and proportionate.

He has, however, ordered a full review of the incident by an independent human rights lawyer who has set up an advisory group to look at police powers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Livingstone warned against overinterpreting from one limited video source without context, saying that they would be looking at body camera footage from officers.

Police in Scotland have issued over 7,000 on-the-spot fines and made almost 550 arrest over virus-related legislation, according to Livingstone, with over 100,000 interactions with the public on the matter.

“Our communities have demonstrated forbearance when asked to co-operate with extensive, necessary restrictions on personal liberty, personal freedoms,” he said.

In general police in Scotland require a warrant to enter a home—with a number of exceptions—according to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. However, regulations introduced this year stipulate power of entry if “that person reasonably suspects that an offence under regulation 5(1) is taking place on the premises.”

Regulation 5(1) refers to a whole slew of legislation introduced to tackle the CCP virus, including restrictions on gatherings and entering other people’s homes under certain conditions.