SCOTTISH
POLICE FEDERATION
5 Woodside Place, Glasgow, G3 7QF
MEDIA
RELEASE
The Scottish Police Federation represents all police officers in the
ranks of chief inspector and below, about 16,000 people, over 98%
of all police officers in Scotland.
To:
Date:
Subject: |
Editor
5
July 2005
Policing
at G8 |
In
response to allegations of ‘heavy-handed policing', Doug Keil , General
Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation said,
“At
any event like G8, where the police are forced to use protective equipment,
complaints about ‘heavy-handed' policing are inevitable. Many so called
‘protestors' use complaints against the police as a tactic while other
witnesses only see part of the picture and are not in possession of
all the facts.
Nothing
I saw yesterday in Edinburgh could be described as ‘heavy-handed'.
Police actions have been proportionate to the circumstances. Two hundred
thousand Make Poverty History campaigners on Saturday got it right.
Their impressive and dignified protest focused attention on their
cause. The anarchists who created mayhem on Monday, insulted, threatened,
intimidated and assaulted police officers, had no legitimate cause,
were threatening public safety and were appropriately dealt with.
Police officers have a duty to protect public safety and a right to
protect themselves. Having things thrown at you, being assaulted,
spat on and sprayed with noxious liquids is not part of the police
job description and will not be tolerated.
I
have been immensely proud of my colleagues this week from Scotland
and England and Wales . They did a fantastic text book job in very
difficult and dangerous circumstances and I know they will continue
in that way, protecting public safety, ensuring
legitimate protestors can do so peacefully but also dealing with offences
and offenders.”
