Ms Sturgeon said the restrictions will prevent more of the new coronavirus variant entering Scotland from other parts of the UK and reduce the risk of it spreading within the country. From tomorrow, entering or leaving Scotland will be illegal - but critics have described the new travel ban as "deeply flawed." Explained: What is Tier 4 and which areas are going into toughest measures? Scotland’s travel ban will not be enforced by road blocks or routine stops, Police Scotland has said. Can I travel to Scotland? Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering can remain open for essential customers only. The news came as the First Minister revealed some areas of the country, including West Lothian, will move into level four from Friday.. Schools in Scotland will stay closed until 11 January and learning will be moved online until 18 January. Meanwhile, the travel ban between Scotland and other parts of the UK will be enforced, with Ms Sturgeon saying she will speak to police and transport operators to see how this can be "strengthened". Scotland’s coronavirus travel ban: List of exemptions includes journeys for work, extended households and providing care by Ross Crae November 19, 2020, 4:17 pm Updated: November 19, 2020, 4:33 pm The UK government has announced a new lockdown that will ban England residents from travelling abroad.Overnight stays and holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed from 5 November to 2 December. But Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs has now said enforcement of the travel restrictions would continue to be a “last resort”. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a “strict travel ban” over the festive period – including Christmas Day – with people unable to travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK, except for essential reasons. In the past 24 hours, 41 deaths from coronavirus and 572 positive tests have been recorded north of the border, though the test positivity rate fell from 4.2 per cent to 4.0 per cent. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already announced that London and the South East of England will be moved into a new Tier 4 - effectively returning to the lockdown rules of November. Ms Sturgeon said the measures were necessary to combat the new, highly-transmissive strain of Covid that ministers and scientists fear is spreading faster than the original strain. She also announced a Level 4 lockdown from Boxing Day on the Scottish mainland, while the Western Isles, the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands will move up to Level 3. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience â the local community. Most … ©Copyright 2001-2021. The new strain of the virus is the "most serious and potentially dangerous juncture" faced since the start of the pandemic, the first minister added. All of Scotland will enter Level 4 - the toughest of the county's five tiers of restrictions - for three weeks from 00:01am on Boxing Day morning. She said 17 cases of the new strain had been identified in Scotland and may be driving faster transmission of Covid in some hospitals and care homes. Despite the City of Edinburgh remaining in level three, the travel … Non-essential shops will close as will cafes, restaurants and hairdressers. Scots who breach the travel ban could be issued with a fixed penalty notice for £60, reduced to £30 if paid within a month. READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon 'desperately sorry' to announce new Scottish lockdown. Get involved with the news in your community, This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. “There are far more people legitimately entitled to be out and about so it makes the policing of that simply impossible, I think.”. Scotland has the lowest case rate in the UK, with 112.6 cases per 100,000 of the population. These new rules only apply to England. A strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK will be kept in place over Christmas to try to stop a new variant of coronavirus from taking root, Nicola Sturgeon has announced. Speirs said: “I fully understand that people will be disappointed with the tightening of restrictions, particularly at this time of year. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? … A Gannett Company. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a ‘strict travel ban’ to other parts of the UK. “The vast majority of the public have been complying with the regulations and so the policing approach we adopted from the outset of the pandemic will not change. SCOTLAND will ban travel from England over the festive period to stop the spread of a highly contagious new strain of coronavirus. The chairman of the independent advisory group set up to oversee the police’s use of temporary powers during the coronavirus pandemic, John Scott QC, previously said enforcing a travel ban is “simply impossible”. All holiday accommodation within mainland Scotland is closed to tourism. Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify, Use the LBC app to listen to Live radio for LBC & LBC News, Jonathan Van Tam urges caution as Covid vaccine rollout, In Pictures: Fury in cities across Russia over opposition, Texas man charged over Capitol riot and âurging, More than 2,600 arrested as protesters across Russia, UK weather: Snow forecast for large parts of the country, More crowded scenes at Heathrow as airport chiefs say, Hotel quarantine plan to be discussed by ministers - but, When is Joe Biden's inauguration and will President Trump, Brazil Covid strain: What is the new variant? It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Nicola Sturgeon announced that the current travel restrictions in place across Scotland would become law, making it illegal to travel outside a level three or four area.. Under current Scottish law, given the state of the epidemic, unless you have a reasonable excuse (see exceptions) you must not travel between Scotland and: England; Northern Ireland; Wales; Republic of Ireland; Jersey; Guernsey; The Isle of Man Travel inside and outside of mainland Scotland is banned, except for limited essential reasons. Scotland's original Christmas "bubble" policy for 23-27 December, that had originally been agreed upon by the four UK nations, has now been scrapped, meaning household mixing will only be allowed on Christmas Day. The travel ban means that no one from Scotland should exit the country into one of the other three home nations nor should anyone in the other three nations enter Scotland. “However, officers may in the course of their duties come across people who are travelling from one local authority area to another. The ban will be enforceable by law and there will be just a number of exceptional circumstances. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a strict travel ban. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here. Current restrictions mean it is illegal to travel into or out of council areas in Level 3 or Level 4 without a valid exemption. Announcing the news on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed those living in Level 3 and Level 4 areas must not travel out of their own council area by law. He added: “It’s an example of something that is unworkable, other than in those situations where someone comes to the attention of the police for some other reason, then it may be possible that a breach of the travel regulations would come into play as well. “Where travel restrictions apply, officers will continue to use the common sense, discretion and excellent judgment that they have applied since the crisis began.”, RECAP: Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson hold conferences as Covid cases rise. And there must be no … Speaking at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Saturday night, Sturgeon said she will talk to police and transport operators to see how this can be “strengthened”. Scotland has announced a travel ban with the rest of the UK and will limit Christmas bubbles to just 25 December before entering a strict lockdown on Boxing Day. A TRAVEL ban will come into force for millions of people in Scotland from Friday.. “We have been very clear that we will not be routinely stopping vehicles or setting up road blocks. olice Scotland has said it will double its presence along the border with England to enforce tighter coronavirus restrictions. Read more: 'Christmas bubbles' only allowed on Xmas Day, PM announces, Read more: Christmas Day mixing in Wales despite lockdown from tonight. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed a "strict travel ban" between Scotland and the rest of the UK on Saturday evening as she updated the nation during a coronavirus press conference. The rest of England will also see the Christmas "bubble" policy - allowing up to three households to meet up over the holiday period - severely curtailed, applying on Christmas Day only. Scotland has introduced emergency legislationbanning non-essential travel from the “common travel area”, which includes England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Scotland’s travel ban will not be enforced by road blocks or routine stops, Police Scotland has said.. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a “strict travel ban” … In addition, for three weeks from Boxing Day, the whole of mainland Scotland is to be placed into the strictest measures - Level 4. Subsequent breaches will see the fine double to a maximum of £960. “The Chief Constable has called on people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of these measures is to aid the collective effort to save lives by preventing the virus from spreading. Repeat offenders can face penalties of up to £960. People living in Wales will be subject to the same international travel ban as England when the Welsh ‘firebreak’ comes to an … A new lockdown began in England on 00:01 on Jan 5, meaning travelling outside of the country will not be allowed until at least mid-February. Travel ban between Scotland and rest of UK and level 4 restrictions from Boxing Day, Nicola Sturgeon confirms. “Our officers will continue to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance, and encourage compliance. He added that the force would not change its approach to policing the restrictions. Without acting firmly, the new strain could lead to the NHS being overwhelmed and more people dying from the virus, she explained. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a “strict travel ban” over the festive period – including Christmas Day – with people unable to travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK, except for essential reasons. People living elsewhere in Scotland must not travel to level three or level four areas, except for essential purposes. A “strict travel ban” over the festive period was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Saturday amid rising concerns of a new strain of the virus. “They are also being affected now, more than at the earliest stages of lockdown, by officer absence, and they don’t have more police patrol vehicles.”. Scotland has announced a travel ban with the rest of the UK and will limit Christmas bubbles to just 25 December before entering a strict lockdown on Boxing Day. This compares with 571.7 in Wales, 219.6 in England and 174.9 in Northern Ireland. Cross-border travel has been banned and it will be against the law to travel outside local council areas - except for essential reasons. Steve Allen Scotland’s travel ban will not be enforced by road blocks or routine stops, Police Scotland has said. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a “strict travel ban… Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. People have … Published from its offices at 200 Renfield Street Glasgow and printed in Scotland by Newsquest (Herald & Times) a division of Newsquest Media Group Ltd, registered in England & Wales with number 01676637 at Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe HP10 9TY â a Gannett company. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. A travel ban on people coming into Scotland from two African countries will come into force at 4am tomorrow. NICOLA STURGEON is said to be examining placing a travel ban between Scotland and other UK nations after similar measures were put in place by the devolved administration in Wales. The ban … Scotland’s travel ban will not be enforced by road blocks or routine stops, Police Scotland has said. The Scottish government is "actively considering" putting a travel ban into law with fines for those who travel in and out of Covid-19 hotspots. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a … Police have the power to issue £60 fines to rule-breakers, although these are halved to £30 if paid within 28 days. Travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Scotland have introduced legally-enforceable travel bans, which means people could be fined by the police if they travel in or out of council areas in Level 3 … Read more: London and SE enter Tier 4 and told to stay home over Christmas. Nicola Sturgeon 'desperately sorry' to announce new Scottish lockdown, Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson hold conferences as Covid cases rise. Have, Contact tracer demands support for vulnerable forced to, Situation in ICUs 'incredibly scary' as capacity tested, NERVTAG Chair: Lockdown measures may last until summer, Environment Secretary: It's not the right time to close, 'Hypocritical' lockdown skeptics are 'weaponising mental. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Nicola Sturgeon has announced the new local tier level restrictions in Scotland, which include a travel ban coming into force from Friday.. “The police haven’t been given any more officers or more resources. POLICE will not set up roadblocks or perform traffic stops to enforce the travel ban in Scotland which has today become law, a top cop has confirmed.. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs pleaded with the public to obey the new rules, which come into place on Friday. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed a "strict travel ban" between Scotland and the rest of the UK on Saturday evening as she updated the nation during a coronavirus press conference. Last month, Mr Scott told Holyrood’s Sub-Committee on Policing: “The reality now – as opposed to the height of lockdown back in April and May – is that significant numbers of people are entitled, quite legitimately, to be out and about on the road, whether that is because of work purposes, for care purposes or other essential purposes. Scotland lockdown travel ban: Restrictions made enforceable by law as Glasgow enters level 4. Scotland’s new travel ban means it is illegal to travel to the airport or to a port to travel abroad, but taking the flight itself is still legal. 4am - 7am, 19 December 2020, 18:17 | Updated: 19 December 2020, 20:17. 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