Experts to mull Scots Northern Ireland-style Parades Commission

A new expert group is to consider whether Scotland should introduce a Northern Ireland-style Parades Commission following tensions around sectarianism.

Thescottishgovernmentsaid the group would bring together experts on marches, human rights,communityengagement and mediation.

Nicola Sturgeon pledged to look into the issue after arrests during Orange walks in September last year, with police condemning "outbreaks of racist and sectarian singing”.

The First Minister said there was "no place" for anti-catholic bigotry in modern Scotland.

Members of the new group will consider whether other modelsusedtoregulatemarches and parades, including the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland, can be adapted and applied to Scotland. A report of itsinitialfindingswillbeprovided in the summer.

The group will be chaired by Professor Dominic Bryan of Queens University Belfast, who was involved in the development of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland.

Dr Michael Hamilton, associate professor in public protest law at the University of East Anglia, will also be involved.

The other members are Lorraine Gillies, chief executive of the Scottish Community Safety Network, and Graeme Boyack, director of Scottish Mediation.

Northern Ireland's Parades Commission was established in 1998 following violence and protests associated with parades in the town of Portadown, known as the Drumcree conflict. It is an independent public body with seven membersandisresponsibleforplacingrestrictionsonanyparades.

Justicesecretarykeithbrown said: “The right to peacefully march and parade is fundamental to all democracies, but the right to march must be balanced with the rights of communitiestogoabouttheirbusiness undisturbed.

“Wearedeterminedtoachieve that balance and are open to considering all options which will help to ensure that such a balance is struck. The findings oftheexpertworkinggroupwill helpusaswemakeprogresson this important issue.”

Prof Bryan said: “We are pleasedtohavetheopportunity toreviewmarchesandparades in Scotland and the mechanismsthatbalancetherightsof marchersandthecommunities impacted by marches.”

Ms Sturgeon previously stressed “peaceful public assembly and freedom of expression are fundamentally important rights”.