Businesses face shutdown as lockdown powers come into force
Last updated 27th Mar 2020
As new laws enforcing the UK-wide shutdown come into effect, we are being told police in Scotland “won’t be shy” in using the powers to close down businesses.
The stark warning comes from Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf at the end of a week which has seen much confusion about which firms can remain open with claims of employees being forced into workplaces that should be closed.
“As an MSP, I have been inundated with messages from constituents telling me they work in a business that is not essential and I must say having read the details of many of those emails, I struggle to see those businesses as being essential.
“So the warning is a very clear one, a very stark one, if you are not on that list of essential businesses and you are remaining open then police have the power to shut you down.”
The Justice Secretary has also confirmed Scotland would be issuing the same level of fines as the rest of the UK to individuals who flout rules.
“A person may have to pay £30, that’s the initial on the spot fine, if it’s not paid within 28 days then it goes up to £60 and this rate will increase by doubling on each occasion. If penalties have been issued to the same person, they can fined up to a maximum of £960.”
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