Police Scotland chief superintendent warns Nazi salutes will lead to arrests

People who make Nazi salutes at anti-immigration protests should wait behind their door to be arrested, a senior Police Scotland officer has warned.

Speaking to STV News following violent scenes in Glasgow last weekend, chief superintendent Stevie Dolan said a major investigation team was working to identify those involved in the disorder.

Demonstrators were seen performing what appeared to be Nazi salutes, while videos on social media seemed to show a non-white delivery driver being attacked by a group shouting “get them out”.

Chief constable Jo Farrell and First Minister John Swinney are among those to have condemned the scenes.

Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan. STV News

“If you are going to involve yourself in behaviour such as Nazi salutes or violence or disorder or intimidating others because of the colour of their skin, wait behind your door because we’re coming to arrest you,” said Dolan.

He added: “Making a Nazi salute in Scotland is not by default illegal. It depends on the context…In that context (Saturday’s protest), it is absolutely illegal, and that’s why we have taken action, and we are continuing to take action to deal with people who engaged in that behaviour.”

Dolan also rejected suggestions that Police Scotland had allowed extremists to act unchecked, insisting officers had planned for what intelligence suggested would be a peaceful protest.

“What we saw on the day, unfortunately, was people who arrived and who were willing to engage in violence and disorder. From a Police Scotland perspective, that is absolutely unacceptable, and we condemn it in the strongest terms,” he said.

“We have committed a senior detective and detective officers who, let’s face it, normally investigate murders. We have committed those resources to investigate the violence and disorder in Glasgow.”

Police Scotland said about 1,700 people took part in demonstrations in the city on Saturday, with groups engaging in violence, disorder and hate-motivated offending.

Fifteen people have since been arrested, and officers have vowed that more will come.

The protest was the latest in a series of anti-migrant demonstrations in Glasgow amid heightened tensions.

Dolan said Police Scotland officers are legally obliged to facilitate peaceful protest while balancing the rights of the wider public.

Asked whether Scotland should follow England and Wales by introducing stronger powers over face coverings at protests, Dolan said Police Scotland was not currently pressing the Scottish Government for legislative change.

“There is existing legislation. We believe the existing legislation under section 60 is appropriate and proportionate to the dynamics in Scotland,” he explained, adding that the force would “watch with interest” how new laws south of the border operate.

Dolan also acknowledged that some individuals associated with football clubs had attended recent anti-immigration demonstrations but said Police Scotland would focus on criminal behaviour rather than affiliations.

“We aren’t here to judge people. What we’re here to do is deal robustly and effectively with those who engage in violence and disorder, whether or not it’s associated with football or protest or other matters,” he said.