Police in Aberdeen will ramp up the number of patrols they conduct as the city locks down later today, amid a surging number of cases in the region.

This afternoon, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the public that, from 5pm today, all pubs, bars and restaurants in the city must close, and separate households must not enter each others’ homes.

Aberdeen residents are also restricted to travelling no more than five miles for exercise and outdoor recreation.

Police in Aberdeen will ramp up the number of patrols they conduct as the city locks down later today, amid a surging number of cases in the region. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Ms Sturgeon said the decision to lock Aberdeen down once again was taken “extremely reluctantly” by officials, and said it should stand as “the biggest wake up call” for people who are not complying with coronavirus guidelines.

Now police in Aberdeen have promised more patrols and a crackdown on people not following the rules.

Announcing stepped-up patrols, Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr said: "It’s really important that people follow the instructions and guidance from the Scottish Government.

“To support that, we will have additional patrols in Aberdeen, where local restrictions have been reintroduced.

“Our approach to these local restrictions will reflect the consistent approach taken by Police Scotland since the outset of this pandemic, and our officers will continue to engage, educate and encourage people to comply, as we all support the public health efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

“As a national service, Police Scotland is able to quickly flex capacity to support local communities across the country, and we will provide whatever additional resources are necessary to protect and support the communities affected.

“The Chief Constable has made it consistently clear that we all should take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of these measures is to aid the collective effort to stay safe, protect others and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading.

“Throughout the response to the pandemic, the majority of the public followed the law and Scottish Government advice. I realise that this situation will be frustrating for people in the affected area but it’s really important that we all continue to do so.

"Our officers will continue to explain the legislation and guidance but, for the minority who may choose to breach the regulations and risk the health of others, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate,” he concluded.

Explaining how quickly the cluster in Aberdeen had grown, Ms Sturgeon told today’s press briefing: “When the Aberdeen cluster was initially reported by NHS Grampian at the end of last week, there were four identified cases as part of it.

“However, I can confirm that as of now, a total of 54 cases have been confirmed as associated with that cluster,” she said, adding, “we expect that number to rise over the course of today.”

In Scotland as a whole, 64 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours - the highest number in a single day since May 29.

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Aberdeen lockdown: Police to ramp up patrols as lockdown reimposed on the city