COP26 will see 10,000 police officers on the street every day

Some 10,000 police officers will be deployed in Glasgow each day during the COP26 climate conference taking place in the city later this year.

The massive security operation – one of the largest police operations ever undertaken in Britain – will involve local policing officers from each of Scotland’s 13 divisions and specialist resources including firearms officers, dog handlers, mounted branch, search teams and the marine unit.

Officers from across the UK will support the operation as part of mutual aid arrangements

COP26 is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 12 at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow.

Deputy chief constable Will Kerr said: “COP26 will see world leaders, delegates, businesses, civil society groups and activists from all over the world come to Glasgow to discuss the future of our planet and take action on climate change.

“This is a significant operation for any police service and will involve one of the biggest mobilisation of police assets the UK has ever seen.

“Police Scotland has a long history of policing major events from the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships, to G8 and state visits. COP26 is no exception and we look forward to playing our part in this historic event.”

Kerr also issued a warning to “the small minority of people who may be intent on violent disorder or causing damage that we will deal with them swiftly and robustly”.

He added: “As part of our operation, we will implement a variety of security measures to ensure that people living in, working in, or visiting Glasgow feel safe.

“Police counter-terrorist security advisors are already assessing venues and other locations associated with the event to consider any risks.“A range of specialist police units will be deployed as part of the security operation, including armed officers, mounted police, the marine unit, road policing and air support.

“We will have visible security measures in place such as CCTV, hostile vehicle barriers, and specialist search officers and dogs will be searching key locations.”

COP26 has been described as the most significant international meeting on climate change since the Paris Agreement in 2015.

Discussing the event during Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee in March, assistant chief constable Bernard Higgins said the scale of the summit means officers from other forces in the UK will need to be brought in under Police Scotland’s command.

The potential arrival of world leaders like US President Biden and Pope Francis could escalate the event significantly, he said.