Police Scotland officers have been permitted to ‘take the knee’ in solidarity with protesters at Black Lives Matter rallies this weekend.
Assistant Chief Constable Kenny MacDonald confirmed that national guidance had been circulated to officers ahead of a string of anti-racism demonstrations held in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis on May 25 after a police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, sparking worldwide protests.
People across the UK have been ‘taking the knee’ - a stance first adopted by American Football star Colin Kaepernick - in the streets and on their doorsteps in tribute to the dad.
The largest Scottish event is set to take place in Glasgow’s Glasgow Green on Sunday - with more than 3,000 people expressing an interest via social media in attending.
ACC MacDonald said officers are permitted to show their support for the movement if it is “operationally appropriate”.
He said: “Like many people in Scotland, indeed across the world, I am shocked and distressed about the dreadful death of George Floyd and the subsequent events in the United States.
“Racism in all its forms is disgraceful and unacceptable. Those events do not reflect our style of policing in Scotland and we continue to value the strong bond of trust with all our citizens and communities.
“We are aware of Take The Knee, a global initiative which takes a stand against racism. Officers can take part, if doing so is both operationally appropriate and in keeping with Police Scotland’s core values and high levels of professionalism.”
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf yesterday said anti-racism demonstrations in Scotland in the wake of George Floyd’s death should be policed with “common sense” and proportionately.
