Women forced to walk in the dark

POLICE chiefs last night apologised after women were forced to walk through a dark park due to security arrangements for world leaders and royals.

Diversions were put in place around the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow on Monday evening as ‘VIP guests’, including US President Joe Biden, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gathered for a reception.

The security operation led to streets being closed, with locals forced to take a diversion through Kelvingrove Park in the dark.

Many local residents took to social media to describe how they had faced long detours to reach their homes. One woman wrote: ‘We were sent away from one exit to the main gate, then told we had to do exactly that detour to get to Partick.

‘On the way we found a first year student in tears because she was in the same position and had had a man following her through the dark path; a male police officer.’

Twitter user Miss Private copied in Glasgow City Council, tweeting: ‘We understand shutting down Kelvin Way for Cop26 but being made to walk through Kelvingrove Park in darkness is not safe.’

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said some diversions followed ‘real-time changes to operational plans’. He said: ‘We apologise for the concern these changes caused. The diversion is no longer in place.’

The First Minister praised the police overall for their work during the conference but said she ‘had concerns’ over any suggestion the safety of women had been compromised.

She added: ‘I will certainly speak to the police about the circumstances.’

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: ‘Whenever we are notified of changes they are posted on social media.’