Around 300 officers required at protests across Scotland each week, says chief constable

Around 300 officers are required to police protests and counter-protests across Scotland each week, the chief constable has said.

Jo Farrell said the demands of repeated demonstrations are putting pressure on Police Scotland’s workforce at a Scottish Police Authority (SPA) board meeting on Thursday.

It comes after a number of anti-immigration protests outside accommodation for asylum seekers in recent weeks, which often attract counter-protests.

In Falkirk, weekly demonstrations have been held between opposing groups outside the Cladhan Hotel.

Pro-Palestinian groups have also staged demonstrations against the UK Government’s proscription of Palestine Action.

“While the vast majority of these [protests] have been peaceful, there have been challenging dynamics and appropriate police planning and resource is required, placing pressure on our workforce,” she told the SPA board.

“To provide a sense of the pressure, over the weekend just gone around 280 officers, over 35 sergeants and ten inspectors, were deployed in relation to demonstrations, including in Glasgow, Falkirk, Dundee and Perth, with similar levels of protest anticipated over the coming weekend.”

She added that officers have had to cancel rest days to carry out these duties.

Ms Farrell told the board the law would be enforced in a “proportionate” way, with a national command structure in place.

She said: “Engagement and communication is a crucial part of what we do. We are proud of our approach but the relentless challenge of carefully managing such an intense and fragile issue has an impact.”

The SPA board was updated on a number of high-profile investigations and convictions in Scotland, including 57 arrests connected to Operation Portaledge, which is investigating a gang feud in the east and west of Scotland.