A top cop has vowed the force will 'keep people safe' as thousands descend on Glasgow for the major Cop26 climate conference.
Climate change activists and major politicians and dignitaries from across the world have arrived in the city with protests and counter-protests planned throughout the course of the two week event which has now started.
Yesterday vast crowds gathered as prominent teenage environmentalist activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Glasgow.
Up to 10,000 police officers from across the UK are involved in the major security operation for Cop26 and will work alongside special forces such as the SAS and intelligence services.
They will protect more than 120 world leaders and 20,000 delegates who are in Glasgow at the SEC to address climate change.
A massive protest, featuring up to 100,000 people, is being planned for the city centre next Saturday.
Previous estimates have suggested around 300 arrests could be made every day of the two week event.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said police would be on hand to protect the public.
He said: "Our policing operation to support a peaceful, vibrant COP26 is well under way as conference delegates and climate change activists begin to arrive in Glasgow.
"We've been working with partners to plan and prepare for this important event and our officers and staff are on the ground, keeping people safe.
"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 at COP26, balanced against the rights of the wider community.
"We have seen a number of peaceful protests already in and around Glasgow today.
“We will continue to provide a proportionate policing response to any protests and have been engaging with known protest groups to ensure their rights to peaceful assembly and protest are met.
"Our approach will continue to be proportionate and responsive to support the delivery of a safe and secure COP26."
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