COP26: Fewer than 50 arrests during the summit to date
- Published
Fewer than 50 arrests have been made during the first week of COP26, police have confirmed.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said the relationship between protesters and the police has been "largely non-contentious".
A series of small protests took place in Glasgow last week before about 100,000 people joined a huge demonstration on Saturday.
It was the largest protest in the city in recent memory.
Police praised the majority of the "good natured" marchers who took part in the procession from Kelvingrove Park to Glasgow Green.
Officers made 22 arrests at the event - one after a socialist group were contained and the rest after protesters chained themselves on a bridge.
An estimated 100,000 people marched through Glasgow on Saturday
A small number of people were also arrested earlier in the week during an Extinction Rebellion demonstration where activists tried to force their way into the offices of the SSE energy company.
Assistant Chief Constable Ritchie said: "For such a highly significant event, to reach the end of the first week with fewer than 50 arrests being made is testament to the fact the relationship between protesters and the police has been largely non-contentious.
"This event has already provided us with some unique challenges, but our officers and staff have risen to face them, and the broadly good nature of the members of the public we are interacting with has made this a widely positive experience.
"I very much hope this atmosphere continues into the second week ahead of COP26 coming to its conclusion."
Police Scotland arrested 21 scientists on Saturday who chained themselves together and blocked a road bridge over the River Clyde
Assistant Chief Constable Ritchie told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland a small group of socialist activists were contained during Saturday's three-mile march through Glasgow because they were slowing down other marchers and failing to follow police instructions.
About 10,000 officers are being deployed in Glasgow each day during the UN climate summit.
In one of the largest policing operations undertaken in the country, officers have been drafted in from across Scotland and from police services around the UK.
Further action
More protests by campaigners are planned for the second week of the summit.
About 40 Extinction Rebellion protestors laid down outside the offices of an assets management company in the centre of Glasgow on Monday.
Protestors are lying down in front of the offices of an assets management company in Glasgow
Scientists Rebellion held a "teach in" protest next to the River Clyde
Some of the protestors covered themselves in makeshift shrouds and have described their protest as a "die in".
They are targeting the company Mercer because they say it invests in fossil fuel companies.
Scientists Rebellion, the group which chained themselves to King George V Bridge in Glasgow on Saturday leading to 21 arrests, has also been protesting again.
The group gathered at the same location for a "teach-in" protest.
The COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow in November is seen as crucial if climate change is to be brought under control. Almost 200 countries are being asked for their plans to cut emissions, and it could lead to major changes to our everyday lives.
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