Police Scotland defend Glasgow city centre Cop26 protest tactics
Five people were arrested during the demonstration
Police Scotland is defending the tactics use to deal with hundreds of climate activists who marched through Glasgow city centre on Wednesday afternoon as part of a demonstration around the Cop26 summit.
Five people were arrested in total, with two of them taking place after a number of officers were sprayed with paint. Cans of spray paint were also seized.
Some protesters accused officers of using the controversial ‘kettling’ technique, and our reporter was shoved by officers while covering the protest.
City centre disruption
Setting off from Buchanan Street steps just after midday, the Extinction Rebellion marchers were held at a police cordon on Sauchiehall Street.
The column of protesters turned back on themselves and went along West Nile Street, before moving down through other parts of the city centre.
Several activists staged a sit-down protest outside the offices of the SSE in Waterloo Street while others marched outside the JP Morgan offices in Glasgow, banging drums and chanting.
Scuffles broke out after two men attempted to unfurl a banner reading "control the borders, not our boilers" and Extinction Rebellion protesters tried to stop them.
Police defend containment tactics
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mair told Forth 1 News: Kettling is a phrase that people use to describe police tactics which have been used elsewhere.
“What Police Scotland do – and what we did do – is ensure we balanced the right of protestors with the wellbeing and safety of the community, who I think have been very supportive and patient throughout a very disruptive time.
“Containment involves police working with protest organisers, but when we have concerns that the activity of a group may impact on public safety we will, for as short a period of time as required, contain people.
“During that time there are people working with protest organisers to identify vulnerable people, or people who aren’t part of that protest, and facilitate them moving away.
“By and large we saw a successful day of protest and a number of small incidents where police had to work with protest organisers to manage the balance between their right to protest and maintaining public safety.
Earlier this week Police Scotland was criticised by residents in parts of the west end of Glasgow for the enforcement of a lockdown surrounding Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum for a reception hosted by Prince Charles for world leaders attending the Cop26 summit.
Many complained of being unable to access their homes, or feeling unsafe being made to walk through unlit parts of Kelvingrove Park to avoid the heavily policed zone.
Protests at Cop26 so far
Greta Thunberg at a rally in Glasgow
Young speaker at Greta Thunberg rally
Protest in George Square at Cop26
Extinction Rebellion march reaches the Squinty Bridge near Cop26 venue in Finnieston
Protesters at the Greenwash march organised by Extinction Rebellion
Giant pokemon characters coal protest at Cop26
Tree man on stilts at Cop26 Extinction Rebellion protest in Glasgow
Cop26 protest on the steps of Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
An activist taking part in a protest outside the Cop26 venue on the last day of climate talks