For Women Scotland campaigner ‘offered police warning’ over umbrella incident

A director of the campaign group For Women Scotland was reportedly offered a police recorded warning over an incident involving an umbrella at a Holyrood protest.

Susan Smith was allegedly told she will face a charge of minor vandalism if she declines the recorded warning.

It follows an incident at a For Women Scotland protest outside the Scottish Parliament on September 4.

Ms Smith was involved in a confrontation with a counter-protester who was playing loud music behind the rally. It is understood this led to Ms Smith being accused of damaging a rainbow-coloured umbrella which belonged to the counter-protester.

Supporters of Ms Smith said the decision to take action against her was “mind-boggling”.

However, on Wednesday evening, Police Scotland said they are reviewing their response to the protest, which includes “the complaint of an umbrella being damaged”.

The force said a final decision on the outcome of that complaint would not be taken until the review is complete, but has not directly commented on any action against Ms Smith.

The founder of For Women Scotland is being supported by the Free Speech Union (FSU), of which she is also a member.

The September 4 rally was titled “Women Won’t Wait”, and called on the Scottish Government to move faster in implementing the Supreme Court ruling on gender.

Fraser Hudghton, director of FSU Scotland, said: “It is mind-boggling to any reasonable person why Police Scotland has opted for this course of action.

“Susan has been told by police if she declines to accept a ‘recorded warning’ when she meets them alongside her solicitor, she will be charged with a criminal offence relating to ‘minor vandalism’.

“A ‘police recorded warning’ would see a file opened and the fact of it potentially materialising in disclosure checks later.

“Criminal charges will mean a report is sent to the Procurator Fiscal by Police Scotland and she would be thrown into the mire of lengthy court delays, with prosecution lingering at the end point.”

He continued: “It is of critical importance Police Scotland and MSPs answer the questions raised by this case.

“The targeting of sex realists by radical activists, using the levers of the state, demands scrutiny.

“Reassurances must be forthcoming that police are there to serve all of us, and not just those who shout the loudest.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are reviewing our response to the protest outside the Scottish Parliament on September 4, which includes the complaint of an umbrella being damaged.

“A final decision on the outcome of that complaint will not be taken until this review has been completed.”