Police are cracking down on people flouting coronavirus lockdown rules in Scotland, and have issued more than 1,600 fixed penalty notices in the past four weeks.

Over that period 78 people have been arrested in connection with the new powers, under which it is a criminal offence to ignore the public health guidance on social distancing to prevent Covid-19.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham praised "remarkably high levels of co-operation" from members of the public in Scotland and said it is important this continues.

He said police are grateful for high levels of support and co-operation from most of the population but a small number of people are still flouting the law by holding house parties and sometimes gathering in public places.

READ MORE: Police Scotland have issued 500 fines but will not patrol shopping baskets

He told BBC Good Morning Scotland: "I think it frustrates everyone that some people, a very small minority, are still continuing to disregard what's very clear regulation and guidance.

"It's mostly people who are gathering in houses, having parties, completely inappropriate, unsafe and against the law and where people refuse to desist, refuse to break those parties up - that's where a lot of those penalty notices are being issued and sometimes people gathering in public spaces and we've done a lot of publicity, engagement, education around that.

"The vast majority of people are working really closely with the police.

"It's only that small minority of irresponsible and selfish people who are repeatedly and wilfully breaking the law that this enforcement is being used appropriately [against]."

READ MORE: Warning rural Scotland could suffer 'devastating' higher death rate

Mr Graham also stressed the focus of policing is not just on the coronavirus legislation as officers continue to tackle crime and work to protect those at risk of harm amid the lockdown.

He said: "We have seen circumstances where those that are at risk of harm from the circumstances in which they live, perhaps children who are vulnerable, needing protected, people who suffer domestic abuse, reporting that it's harder for them to get access to help and we're working really closely with a huge range of organisations to ensure those people are protected."

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