COP26 protestors praised by Scots police chief as fewer than 50 arrests made in first week

A senior Scots cop has issued high praise for climate change activists who have spent the last seven days protesting in Glasgow.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie told how the 'relationship' between the demonstrators and officers has been 'largely non-contentious'.

Fewer than 50 people have been arrested during the week of action which saw thousands of protestors march the streets of the city, demanding urgent climate change action.

It comes as world leaders gathered for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, at the SEC.

Less than 50 people have been arrested during the last week where a number of rallies have been held (Daily Record)

Gary Ritchie, of Police Scotland, said: “For such a highly significant event, to reach the end of the first week with fewer than 50 arrests being made is testament to the fact the relationship between protesters and the police has been largely non-contentious.

"Despite today being a rest day at the conference, Police Scotland has, once again, engaged positively with protest organisers and attendees at a number of events across Glasgow, with minimum disruption to the wider community.

Thousands of activists marched through Glasgow on Saturday (Daily Record)

"As you'll no doubt know, Police Scotland has spent more than 18 months preparing for COP26, and a great deal of effort has gone into ensuring our policing plan is robust but reactive, but also welcoming while balancing the right to protest with the rights of our communities.

"All of our work is underpinned by human rights and a great deal of effort has been taken to ensure our response to COP26-related incidents and events is necessary and proportionate, and that our ethos and values of integrity, fairness and respect is shared by both our own officers and our mutual aid colleagues who have travelled to Scotland from across the UK to support us.

"This event has already provided us with some unique challenges, but our officers and staff have risen to face them, and the broadly good nature of the members of the public we are interacting with has made this a widely positive experience.

"I very much hope this atmosphere continues into the second week ahead of COP26 coming to its conclusion next weekend."

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