Huge Loch Ness monster inflatable seized by police during protest

A huge inflatable Loch Ness monster has been impounded by police after campaigners attempted to float it on the Cyde.

At 7am on Wednesday, officers in Glasgow surrounded the air-filled beast and its lengthy tail before lifting it up and onto a trailer.

Anti-poverty group, Jubilee Debt Campaign, had wanted to highlight the plight of lower income countries whose debt is “sabotaging” their climate response.

Our @dropthedebt Loch Ness debt monster is being impounded by the police at #cop26 We wanted to show that the global South debt crisis cannot be ignored if we are to achieve climate justice. pic.twitter.com/h0y49UpYdj
— Heidi Chow (@hidschow) November 3, 2021

The inflatable Nessie, which is approximately four metres tall, eight metres long and three metres wide, was seized at Govan Dry Docks nearby where the UN climate summit COP26 is being hosted on the banks of the river.

Police said the Loch Ness Debt Monster breached the maritime restrictions in place to maintain public safety and security around the conference.

Finance ministers from around the world are meeting at the Scottish Exhibition Centre on Wednesday to discuss tackling the climate crisis.

Jubilee Debt Campaign's Loch Ness Debt Monster is impounded by police. — Jubilee Debt Campaign’s Loch Ness Debt Monster is impounded by police. Jubilee Debt Campaign

Eva Watkinson, head of campaigns at Jubilee Debt Campaign said: “The debt crisis facing lower income countries has been excluded from debate at COP26 and now police have prevented the Loch Ness monster from raising awareness of this fundamental issue.

According to the group, poorer countries are spending more than five times more on external debt payments than projects to protect people from the impacts of climate change.

Chris Sinckler, of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre, said: “At COP26, developed countries must accept the moral responsibility to act now to halt this looming disaster by meeting emissions targets and agreeing a comprehensive debt relief and climate finance package for Small Island Developing States that scales-up their capacity to adapt and mitigate the climate crisis while providing the fiscal space that allows for needed investments in health, education and social welfare.”

The inflatable Nessie is seen off on a trailer. Jubilee Debt Campaign

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers seized a large inflatable due to be launched on the River Clyde as it breached the maritime restrictions in place to maintain public safety and security close to the COP26 venue.”