BANNED: Six marches due to take place in Glasgow this weekend halted

Glasgow City Council has banned six marches that had been due to take place this weekend.

Published 12th Sep 2019

Last updated 12th Sep 2019

Glasgow City Council has banned six marches that had been due to take place this weekend.

The decision, to halt the Republican and Loyalist processions, was made at a meeting of the city’s Public Processions Committee.

The local authority said it "has always been clear that the law expects it to facilitate public processions; including those that some people oppose or find offensive.

"However, the right to march has to be balanced against the rights of people and communities across Glasgow.

"Today, committee has acted to protect the interests of those communities - taking into account the threat to public safety and the likelihood of widespread disruption and disorder."

The city council says the decision follows the recommendations made by the Chief Executive, having also considered expert evidence by Police Scotland.

Glasgow has already witnessed disruption and disorder associated with parades and counter-protests in recent weeks.

The local authority also says: "It is clear, both from the intelligence gathered by police and the tone of comments made by supporters and protestors, that tensions are high and the situation threatens to deteriorate further.

"The council directly appeals to those who would have taken part in these marches, or who planned to mount protests against them, to comply with the orders made and not bring further disruption to city streets.

"This means that, by law, the organiser and any participants must not carry out their planned event. Failure to comply with the order is a criminal offence."

The groups can not appeal the decision.

The news has been welcomed by the Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf who took to Twitter to say: "Pleased that Glasgow City Council have made this decision - we will continue our dialogue with GCC to find a longer term solution to reduce the number of loyalist/republican parades going through Glasgow.

"I know the citizens of Glasgow have frankly had enough."

Hear all the latest news from across Glasgow and the West on the hour, every hour, at Clyde 1. Listen on FM, via our Radio Clyde app, on your DAB radio, online at Clyde1.com, or say ‘Play Clyde 1’ on your Smart Speaker.