Police arrest 2 men following Glasgow anti-vax march

Part of a demo broke off and entered the Buchannan Galleries

Author: Rob WallerPublished 23rd Jan 2022

Two men aged 34 and 60 have been arrested after "disruption and intimidation" was caused to staff and customers inside the Buchannan Galleries shopping centre in Glasgow during an anti-vaccination march.

Police said the pair were arrested for allegedly illegally planning the march, which the council or police were not notified about.

"Officers engaged with the group, which included a significant number of families and children, and facilitated the procession to minimise disruption to the wider community and ensure public safety," said Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, the divisional commander for greater Glasgow.

"Some members of the procession entered Buchanan Galleries shopping centre, causing disruption and intimidation to shoppers and staff.

"Two men aged 34 and 60 were arrested for holding the procession in contravention of section 65 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982."

Three protests in one day

The march was held on the same day as a Scottish independence procession, and the "Bloody Sunday march for justice" - both of which Mr Sutherland said resulted in no arrests.

He added: "Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation that puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do.

"This means that we will protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest, balanced against the rights of the wider community."