Police Learned of Sturgeon's COVID Rules by Watching TV Briefings, Inquiry Hears

Senior police officers in Scotland frequently learned about new COVID-19 rules and policy changes by watching televised press conferences, a public inquiry has been told. Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs stated that Police Scotland was often surprised by announcements made by then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and that having more advance notice could have led to more effective and efficient implementation of the rapidly changing regulations.

Speirs testified before the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry that police officers sometimes tuned into Sturgeon's televised briefings to stay updated on the latest directives. He noted that guidance and rule changes were typically announced on Wednesdays and were set to take effect on Fridays, leaving the police service with limited time to communicate the information to officers and prepare for enforcement. In his written evidence, Speirs stated that there were occasions when he was surprised by statements and guidance from the Scottish Government because the police force had not been informed in advance.

"There were times when I was surprised by some of the statements and guidance that came from SG," Speirs wrote. "I suspect I was even more surprised because PS did not know about these in advance. In terms of very short notice of new powers being introduced, had PS been given more time and advance notice, then their introduction would have been more effective, efficient and clearer."

He indicated that the ideal scenario would have been receiving advance notice of any changes to the Scottish Government's position before Sturgeon announced them publicly. While some communications provided a day or two of notice, which was helpful, there were other instances where Police Scotland received no advance warning at all. Speirs added that at times, this lack of notice was due to the fact that contacts within the Scottish Government were also not aware of the changes in advance.

During the pandemic, the Scottish Government implemented a ban on travel between England and Scotland. Speirs recalled an expectation that Police Scotland would establish road checks at the border to enforce this ban. However, he stated that the force "did not consider it to be the right approach," citing a lack of resources and the view that such measures would not have been proportionate. While Speirs acknowledged that the Scottish Government generally listened, he noted that their input did not always affect the government's final decisions and actions.

Nicola Sturgeon chaired a significant number of televised briefings throughout the pandemic, becoming a prominent figure in public health communications. Between March 2020 and the end of 2021, she led more than 250 conferences, chairing almost all of the 107 televised briefings until August 2020. The inquiry is ongoing.