POLICE Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone warned that policing will become more challenging if England and Scotland take a different approach on the lockdown.
"I think it would make the consistency of public messaging harder, people would be hearing different things when they listen to different forms of media," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"It would be harder than it's been but I'm confident that the police would be able to respond to any differentials that the politicians decide upon."
Boris Johnson has indicated he will ease some restrictions from Monday, while Nicola Sturgeon has renewed Scotland's lockdown a further three weeks.
Scotland's First Minister yesterday said there was a “helpful recognition” in her call with the Prime Minister that the “four UK nations may well move at different speeds if our data about the spread of the virus says that that is necessary to suppress it”.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland will exit lockdown our own way
Recent polls have indicated the public is not yet ready to leave lockdown.
Livingstone also said policing the next phase of the coronavirus will be more challenging generally, saying: "I think that's fair comment.
"Any easement or any change around that that has a level of distinction, whether that's by locality, whether that's by sector, whether that's by criteria, age or occupation, inevitably adds a level of complexity."
He said there has to be a "level of compliance realism" about how sustainable it is to keep such severe restrictions in place.
A total of 1847 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 36 on Friday, the Scottish Government has announced.
Recent statistics show 13,305 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 156 from 13,149 the day before.
There are 93 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, an increase of nine on Friday.
There are 1585 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, an increase of one.
Since March 5, 3016 people who have tested positive for coronavirus have been able to leave hospital.
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