Glasgow protests have ‘threatened safety’ of some people, Swinney says

Protests in Glasgow have “threatened the safety” of some people, John Swinney has said.

With demonstrations and counter protests having highlighted divisions in the city, the First Minister said that “the issues of community cohesion are issues that cause me deep concern”.

His comments come after some 1,700 people took part in demonstrations in Glasgow at the end of July, with this the latest in a series of anti-migrant protests amid heightened tensions.

Trouble then flared at another demonstration at the start of August, as protesters in the Priesthill area threw objects including bricks and eggs at police with three officers injured

Meanwhile, a recent documentary about Glasgow featured assaults, drug dealing and racist incidents.

Asked about public safety in Scotland’s largest city, Mr Swinney said he was “always concerned to ensure the public are safe”.

Speaking to the Press Association news agency he added: “It is a fundamental priority for me as First Minister, to make sure the public are at all times safe.”

With protests having occurred over the summer, the First Minister stressed it is “important we live in a society where people are able to express their views in protest”.

But he added it was also important people do this “in a manner that doesn’t threaten the safety of anybody else”.

He added: “I am afraid we have seen some examples of behaviour that have threatened the safety of other people.”

He accepted there are “a variety of issues at play” in the city, with the First Minister saying: “The issues of community cohesion are issues that cause me deep concern.”

But he went on to insist that “Glasgow is a city which has much to be proud of” saying its people had “welcomed the world” during this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

Mr Swinney reflected: “I think if you step back and look at the whole of the city of Glasgow over the summer, you would see a city that welcomed the world to the Commonwealth Games, and did so very well and very happily and in a way that created enormous confidence in the city of Glasgow.”

Highlighting the “strengths of the city of Glasgow” he said it had also “made its feelings known about the importance the city as a whole attaches to be a welcoming city and being an inclusive city”.

The First Minister stated: “I think the whole of the summer has demonstrated that Glasgow is a city which has much to be proud of, and the Scottish Government wants to make sure we work with the city to enhance the reputation of the city and the strength of the city and the achievements of the city and there have been many of those over the summer.”