Report detail

Police Support to Events

Providing proportionate policing support to events has remained a priority throughout a particularly busy summer period. Large-scale outdoor music festivals, FIFA World Cup watch parties and ongoing preparations for the Commonwealth Games have generated significant demand. Police Scotland continues to work closely with event organisers to ensure responsibility for safety and security remains with those delivering events, while maintaining a clear focus on minimising abstractions from local policing and keeping officers within communities wherever possible. This balanced approach has enabled the provision of appropriate public safety measures without compromising frontline service delivery.

Looking ahead, national planning activity is focused on a number of major events, including Moonbeam 2026 (Bonfire Night events), the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2027 in Edinburgh, and The Open Championship at St Andrews in 2027. Preparations are also well underway for UEFA Euro 2028, with Scotland's policing effort centred on Glasgow, which is scheduled to host six tournament matches as part of the UK and Ireland-wide event.

Police Support to protests

Since 2025, Police Scotland has experienced a significant change in the protest landscape, with officers managing the direct impact of, and real-time reactions to, international conflicts, UK incidents and public/political commentary.

In 2025, Police Scotland deployed resources to 2,190 protests, representing a 19% increase compared with the previous year. This demand has continued into 2026.

A dedicated Police Scotland command structure has been in place since August 2025, with Divisional representatives attending weekly meetings chaired by the Silver Commander or a representative, under Operation Leste.

This has ensured the application of a nationally co-ordinated, rights-based and consistent policing approach, supported by effective local community and stakeholder engagement. While initially focused primarily on asylum and immigration-related protest, the operation now also co-ordinates the policing approach to protests across Scotland.

Regular weekly protests involve prioritising public safety while balancing the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest across a range of political views and causes.

The focus of the operation remains a locally led, conventional policing approach, with national oversight and co-ordination provided through the Operation Leste command structure. Specialist policing resources and bespoke command structures are deployed only by exception and subject to the requisite authorisation.

This challenging dynamic and volume of protests means officers are working in a highly scrutinised and intense operational environment.

Demand on Policing

The demand on policing is both intensive and consistent. Since 1 January 2026, 1,283 protests were identified as having had the potential to occur, which necessitates planning.

Post-event recording shows that around 756 protests were confirmed as having taken place during that period, across seven protest themes. This illustrates the challenges associated with identifying risk and planning proportionate resources.

Whilst protest activity across Scotland is heavily concentrated in Edinburgh (30%) and Glasgow (26%), it should be noted that the spread of protest activity across Scotland has grown in the last 18 months, with towns across Scotland, that would not ordinarily see regular protest activity, having done so. Resource is regularly shared across the country, to support divisions with the demand faced.

Protests which involve a counter protest are often the most challenging to police. Anti-immigration protests attracted significantly more counter-protests than other protest themes.

Eighty-three counter-protests occurred during the reporting period, around 80% of which were in response to anti-immigration protests.

Counter protests were evident in seven Police Scotland Divisions with the highest concentration occurring at the Cladhan Hotel in ‘C’ Division at Falkirk (48%), and several hotels and nearby locations in Aberdeen (25%) (which were housing asylum seekers).

Anti-Immigration Protests Specific

As referenced above, during the reporting period 144 anti-immigration protests occurred at 19 towns and cities across Scotland.

Falkirk accounted for 52% of the overall total with almost all being located at the Cladhan Hotel.

A counter-protest was present at 66 (46%) of the 144 anti-immigration protests recorded up to and including 22 June 2026.

Resource Demand

The proportionate deployment of appropriate police resources remains a constant focus of Operation Leste. Most deployments are undertaken by local policing teams, which have gained significant experience in the management of protest since the operation commenced.

Where specialist policing resources are required, deployment is subject to review and approval through established command structures and is authorised only where proportionate and necessary, based on available information and intelligence.

The national co-ordination afforded through Operation Leste structures allows for the fluid redeployment of staff from territorial divisions to provide mutual aid where required and the pathway to specialist advice and resource as required.

Despite these efforts, since Operation Leste commenced in August 2025, there has been a requirement to cancel 2,888 rest days to provide sufficient and safe resources for pre-planned protests. Of these, 843 have occurred between 1 January 2026 and the date of this report.

In the financial year 2025-26 the cost to Police Scotland in overtime and associated allowances was approximately £1.1 million. This year to date the cost sits at approximately £330k.

This sustained demand has a significant impact on officer welfare and wellbeing, particularly where scheduled rest days are repeatedly cancelled, often at short notice.

The statistics above do not include the police response to spontaneous protest, which can impact operational efficiency and the service provided to communities when officers are required to respond to this significant demand.

Emerging Trends

In recent weeks, new forms of protest have become evident. There have been several examples of spontaneous community mobilisation in response to incidents reported online or in conventional media, including allegations relating to criminal offences attributed by those protesting to individuals from the asylum seeker community, or cases where foreign national sex offenders have been identified publicly within communities. In some cases, reporting has been accurate; in others, activity has been driven by disinformation shared online.

These protests have required a policing response and, in some cases, have resulted in hostility towards police, including the throwing of missiles and several arrests.

There have also been protests, described as being ‘a silent vigil’ where individuals dressed in black have gathered in prominent public places and arranged themselves in ranks to carry out a wreath laying ceremony. These protests have been peaceful in nature and recorded before being shared widely online. They have however had significant community impact and will continue to be monitored and assessed.

While demand is evolving, the structure and resources are in place to monitor, assess and respond to protest activity, and to criminality linked to the increase in protest activity across Scotland. Although this demand is expected to continue across a range of venues in the short to medium term, there is currently no compelling case to suggest that a change in policing style or tone is justified or required.

There is a broad spectrum of engagement ongoing with impacted communities led by the Police Scotland Policing Together team and through local divisions. This engagement seeks to minimise the impact of protest and any associated criminality on these communities.

Distinguishing Protest from Criminality

Global events and political commentary in conventional and online media have created an environment in Scotland in which protest activity is likely to continue across several issues, particularly in relation to anti-immigration protest and associated anti-racist counter-protest.

Most protests remain peaceful and lawful and comprise concerned community members or organised activists who engage with Police and comply with the relevant legal obligations and responsibilities and with due consideration for the wider community. Throughout Operation Leste, there have been examples whereby groups or individuals engaged in protest have demonstrated behaviour which comprises criminality and, in such cases, relevant, proportionate police action has been taken, maximising the use of restrictive conditions and measures which prevent further offending.

Most of these cases relate to individuals or groups who have initially been involved in legitimate protest, but whose behaviour has deteriorated to a point at which it becomes criminal.

Distinct from this, there have also been examples of individuals and groups using the guise of protest to engage in blatant criminality or to promote more extremist ideology, specifically racist ideology framed as legitimate activity carried out in defence of communities. This narrative has been promoted online and characterised by mis and disinformation.

In each of these cases, all intelligence gathering and enforcement opportunities have been explored with a focus on disruption, detection and deterrence. Further intelligence development is required and ongoing.

As detailed above, there is a clear distinction between criminal or extremist behaviour which takes advantage of the current protest landscape in Scotland and criminality which manifests at protest locations, directly linked to protest activity.

Police Scotland's approach to protest is in accordance with the Human Rights Act 1998. It recognises the rights to freedom of expression (Article 10), peaceful assembly (Article 11), and freedom to manifest religion or belief (Article 9). These are qualified rights and must be balanced against the broader interests of communities and society.

Police Scotland continues to consult widely to ensure that the policing approach to protest strikes the appropriate balance between the rights of protestors and the rights of communities and society more broadly. This consultation includes obtaining specific legal advice, independent advice regarding the implementation of the Human Rights Act, and review by the Independent Police Advisory Committee (IPAC).

Police can impose lawful restrictions on protest only when certain criteria are met.

Public order commanders receive training specific to their role which includes the application of the Human Rights Act. Police have a positive and negative duty in respect of protests.

Negative duty: police must not prevent, hinder or apply unreasonable indirect restrictions on peaceful protests.

Positive duty: police must, in certain circumstances, take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect peaceful protests.

In respect of protest, it should be noted that the Human Rights Act 1998 recognises that peaceful activity may include conduct that annoys or offends people opposed to the idea or claims a procession or assembly is promoting. This is a detail often overlooked or misunderstood.

Peaceful intentions should be presumed unless there is compelling evidence that those organising or participating in the protest will use, advocate or incite violence.

The possibility of extremists with violent intentions, who are not organisers or members of the organising group, joining the demonstration does not take away the right to peaceful assembly.

An individual does not lose the right to peaceful assembly as a result of incidents of sporadic violence or other criminal acts committed by others in the course of a protest, provided that individual remains peaceful.

If intentions are peaceful the presumption should be in favour of facilitating peaceful protest.

All officers are trained in the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 and probationary officers receive an additional input of Policing in a Diverse Society which covers some of the practical considerations officers should take in relation to protected characteristics.

Operational guidance is available to all officers involved in the policing of protest and is updated regularly through our Policing Together team.

To support officers, Hate Crime Advisors (HCA) are available to guide and offer advice on hate crime. They are regularly deployed to larger demonstrations and are available for retrospective advice when not deployed.

The use of HCAs ensures a consistent approach when responding to hate at protests and demonstrations.

Protest Liaison Officers are routinely deployed in support of relevant policing operations. Their role is to provide support, guidance and liaison between protest groups and police commanders or planners in order to facilitate peaceful protest. This approach has been fundamental in building trust and maintaining effective engagement.

While decision-making in respect of many of these issues is subjective, officers and commanders are provided with a framework and access to relevant advice and guidance to support proportionate and defensible decision-making.

Where there is evidence of criminality, robust police action is always taken. This includes retrospective investigation and action where required. Oversight is provided in the form of a national investigative lead aligned to the Operation Leste command structure.

Legislative Framework

As described above, the Human Rights Act 1998 provides the legislative framework within which police may act in respect of protest.

The Public Order Act 1986 contains provision in sections 12 and 14 for police to impose conditions on the rights of peaceful assembly and expression, provided their actions are:

Lawful, for example imposed in accordance with sections 12 or 14 of the Public Order Act 1986;

In pursuit of one or more legitimate aims, including national security, public safety, the prevention of disorder or crime, the protection of health or morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others;

Necessary in a democratic society, where there is a pressing social need;

Proportionate, with measures representing the least restrictive means of achieving the legitimate purpose; and

Not applied in a discriminatory manner.

The exercising of such powers is subject to a high threshold in terms of justification and can only be applied where:
(a) it may result in serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community,
(b) the purpose of the persons organising it is the intimidation of others with a view to compelling them not to do an act they have a right to do, or to do an act they have a right not to do,

There is a range of existing legislation available to Officers in circumstances where criminality is apparent. Significant changes to public order legislation have been approved for implementation in England and Wales which extend the powers of police and create new offences and restrictions specifically related to protest activity.

Representatives from Police Scotland Specialist Operations have been briefed regarding this and whilst it is not assessed such amendments are currently required in Scotland, the enactment and enforcement of the new powers in England and Wales will be monitored to capture any learning and to understand the public response to this apparent expansion of police powers and restrictions on the freedom of protestors.

Wearing of Face Coverings

The wearing of face coverings by those engaged in protest has become a regular feature and is viewed by some as an expression of their rights and by others as intimidation or an attempt to evade identification for criminal acts.

Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides powers for police in certain circumstances to demand the removal of face coverings.

An authorisation under that section gives the police powers to stop and search pedestrians and vehicles for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments. It also gives the police power to require the removal of face coverings.

Similar to sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, there is a high threshold in relation to justifying the use of these powers which can be authorised by an officer of the rank of Inspector or above in the reasonable belief that incidents of serious violence may take place in the locality and that it is expedient to give an authorisation to prevent their occurrence.

Of note, the new legislation in England and Wales includes measures to address the wearing of face coverings during protests.

Conclusion

As described in this paper, the protest landscape in Scotland has developed considerably over the past 12 months. Police Scotland is now responding to a range of issues, including frequent and repeat protests, tensions between protest groups, and incidents where criminality, including hate crime, is identified during protests.

This is further compounded by the challenges posed by groups and individuals who have sought to exploit the increase in protest activity to justify or disguise overt criminality or those who seek to promote more extreme ideology under the guise of protest or legitimate reaction to world events.

Under Operation Leste, Police Scotland has a clear and robust command structure that provides national oversight of existing and emerging demand, supports a co-ordinated approach to intelligence sharing and best practice, informs resource allocation, and maintains consistency of policing approach across Scotland.

Protest is, by its nature, emotive and polarising, and can provoke a range of strongly held views. Framed by the Human Rights Act 1998, Police Scotland's approach seeks to balance the rights of those seeking to express their views peacefully with the needs of the wider community. Fundamental to that approach is recognition that peaceful activity may include conduct that annoys or offends people opposed to the idea or claims a procession or assembly is promoting.

There is a range of powers available to police in Scotland that can be considered in relation to all known circumstances. While the expansion of powers in England and Wales will be monitored and considered, it is not considered necessary at present to pursue such an expansion in Scotland.

Specific consideration will be given to the impact of repeat protest at a single location, in particular where this relates to asylum accommodation. There is a need to consider the impact of repeat protest on the rights of the occupants and staff of such premises and to consider whether further enforcement action by police meets the relevant thresholds in legislation and if so, how that can be achieved. This is being progressed during July 2026.

Police Support to Football

Policing support to football continues to operate within a challenging environment that requires strong collaboration between Police Scotland, football governing bodies, clubs and local authority partners. The focus remains on preventing and managing disorder before, during and after matches through robust preparation, appropriate event security plans and a proportionate, intelligence-led policing approach.

The disorder witnessed during the Rangers v Celtic fixture in March 2026, together with the title-day disorder in Glasgow city centre, highlighted the need for greater accountability across the football sector. The recent SFA review reinforces the expectation that governing bodies and clubs take increased responsibility for supporter behaviour, supported by the use of appropriate sanctions as a deterrent to misconduct. In parallel, work continues to strengthen the legislative framework, including proposals to align Football Banning Orders with legislation in England and to introduce offences relating to tailgating and pitch incursions.

With the domestic season commencing in August and European competitions already generating resource demand, policing pressures are expected to continue. Despite this, proportionate policing of fixtures at all risk levels remains a priority.

There is strong partnership commitment across the football sector to improve supporter behaviour, reduce violence and disorder and ensure enforcement activity remains focused on the small minority whose actions negatively impact the wider football community.