Coronavirus: Police break up over 300 house parties

Police attended several large gatherings across the country

Officers attended more than 300 house gatherings across Scotland over Halloween weekend.

More than 300 fines were issued and 24 people were arrested between Friday 30 October and Sunday 1 November.

Police received more than 3,000 calls relating to nuisance, noise and disturbance.

Most gatherings were small, however in one incident, about 100 people were found at a party in a rented property in Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire.

A 48-seater party bus and several cars were parked outside the property during Saturday evening.

The party organiser, a 33-year-old man, was charged with culpable and reckless conduct.

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A 46-year-old man was charged with a breach of coronavirus regulations and fined while the bus driver was also fined.

In Edinburgh, police were called to reports of a house party in the New Town area in the early hours of Sunday.

Thirty students were found inside the property and all received fines.

'Do the right thing'

An illegal Halloween party at a warehouse in Hyde Park Street in Glasgow was also attended by police on Sunday.

Officers issued more than 60 fines and charged a 26-year-old man with culpable and reckless conduct.

Police said many people were not wearing masks and no physical distancing was in place at the event.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: "Officers dealt with a significant number of calls to house gatherings over the weekend and we have been quite clear that we will enforce the law where necessary, as the public would expect us to do.

"We are not just talking about large parties. The vast majority were smaller groups of different households meeting indoors.

"House gatherings of any size cause the virus to spread and we are asking people to do the right thing and take personal responsibility."