Police upbeat as only 97 arrests made
POLICE have hailed Cop26 as a success after making only 97 arrests during the conference despite tens of thousands of activists demonstrating in Glasgow.
Plans had been drawn up for major disruption, with fears there could be 300 arrests a day, and 10,000 officers were on duty during the two-week event, the biggest in Police Scotland’s history.
But police chiefs have praised demonstrators after the conference proved to be largely peaceful and with no major incidents.
Most of the arrests made were for breach of the peace or vandalism.
Police Scotland adopted a strategy of permitting non-violent protests, but drafted in up to 7,000 officers from other forces to swell their ranks in case the summit prompted more serious disorder. The officers dispatched to Glasgow included specialists in firearms, search techniques and public order, plus extra horses, dogs and vehicles. An estimated 1,000 armed officers were on duty. The controversial technique of kettling or containing protesters was used twice, when Extinction Rebellion activists were prevented from leaving an area in Glasgow city centre on the fourth day of Cop26 and again when a group of Youth Communist League members became ‘aggressive’ during a march on the Global Day of Action.
Two arrests were made during a protest on November 3 after police officers were sprayed with paint. There were also 16 arrests at a protest last Monday involving members of Glasgow Calls Out Polluters.
Assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie said: ‘In general, the vast majority of people who wanted to have their voice heard and protest in relation to Cop26 have been able to do so safely and peacefully. The very small minority who wanted to cause major disruption have been appropriately dealt with.’
n Leftover Cop26 furniture will be divided between good causes mainly in and around Glasgow.
A spokesman for charity Event Cycle said: ‘Where there are leftover items that could have a longer life, Event Cycle are matching these with charities, community groups and social enterprises.’