Protests
Frequently asked questions
This page contains answers to common questions around the policing of protests.
Why do the police attend protests?
We perform various functions at protests but our main role is to prevent crime and disorder; whether that criminality is from people who are part of a protest group, counter protesters or passers-by disrupting a protest. People have a right to peaceful protest. We can also advise organisers on how to plan protests that are within the law and minimise disruption to the wider community. The overwhelming majority of protests in Scotland from a range of groups and different views take place without issue.
What should we expect to see?
You will see officers in uniform and you may see police horses, police dogs, police drones and the police helicopter. We have specially trained hate crime advisors to help assess what may constitute a hate crime. Officers wearing a light blue vest are called Police Liaison Officers (PLOs) and they act as a point of contact for the organiser to speak to the police.
If you are part of a planned protest, live nearby or just visiting the area, speak to us. We’re there for your safety.
What will you do if a protest turns violent?
We will take action.
If you commit an offence, you may face arrest and potentially a jail sentence. Public order officers will support frontline colleagues and surrounding communities. Violence and disorder will get a strong response. There is no tolerance for people pretending to be part of a peaceful protest who are intent on causing disorder.
Even if you are not caught on the day, we have significant evidence-gathering resources at our disposal, and you will be identified.
What are you doing about all the issues that people are protesting about?
There are legitimate concerns across all communities.
Our role is to enforce the law. Operational decisions taken by officers are not easy ones, but they must be impartial and in line with the law – not based on opinion or online commentary.
Frontline officers often make difficult decisions in fast-moving situations and must deal with what is in front of them – regardless of cause, background or politics.
There is no excuse for violence, disorder or hate crime. There is no excuse for turning peaceful protests into criminal acts and lawlessness.
Community cohesion is a partnership effort. It’s led by government and local authorities, and we will continue to listen and be part of this.
Why are you not arresting people for [insert example]? Why are the police doing [insert example]?
Every situation is unique and dealt with on a case-by-case basis. This includes what may constitute a criminal offence.
What you read or see online may not be the full circumstances. Policing decisions are made based on evidence and available legislation, not politics.
The legal system in Scotland is unique to the rest of the UK. This means legislation that applies in England and Wales might not apply in Scotland.
Sometimes we can’t give out information for several reasons, including a case being live under the Contempt of Court Act or there is an ongoing investigation. We don’t always get it right but we aim to be as clear as possible, when we can.
Do you have the resources to police protests?
Police Scotland is a human rights-based organisation and we want to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest and counter protest.
We have seen a considerable change in the protest landscape since 2025.
Officers experience the direct impact and live time reactions to international conflicts, UK incidents and political commentary.
In 2025, we policed 2,190 protests, which is an increase of 19% compared to the previous year.
This places a sustained demand on police resources. Heightened tensions and risk of disorder impacts policing and communities. It can mean officers being diverted from responding to calls and taken away from work in their local community.
What are you doing about face coverings?
Police Scotland has existing powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to remove face coverings.
An authorisation under that section gives police powers to stop and search pedestrians and vehicles for offensive weapons in a designated area. While it does not specifically allow an officer to require the removal of a face covering, it does empower a search during which a face covering could be removed.
There is a high threshold for justifying the use of these powers. They may be authorised in spontaneous circumstances by an officer of the rank of inspector or above, or by an Assistant Chief Constable in pre-planned operations, where there is a reasonable belief that incidents of serious violence may take place in that area, or that people are carrying offensive weapons in an area without good reason.
This legislation is used where appropriate and proportionate in Scotland to prevent public disorder.
The powers for removing face coverings in England and Wales are different, and there are two alternative statutory powers (legislation) that officers can use. Section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 operates on similar grounds and thresholds to section 60, but contains a specific and distinct legal power to require the removal of face coverings and to seize items used to conceal a person’s identity. Section 158 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 gives an officer of the rank of inspector or above the power to designate an area a temporary mask-free zone for up to 24 hours where they reasonably believe that a public protest may take place and that the statutory conditions are met. Wearing or using any item to conceal identity in these designated areas is a criminal offence, subject to exemptions including for religious reasons.
Police Scotland is monitoring the impact and effectiveness of new legislation in England and Wales. We will identify learning including operational, legal, ethical and public confidence considerations that may arise as the provisions are put into practice.
What about protests that target people who are - or believed to be - registered sex offenders?
Registered sex offenders are managed robustly and effectively through Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements, known as MAPPA. These arrangements provide a comprehensive response to a complex issue, using professional assessment and risk management across different agencies.
‘Outing’ registered sex offenders on social media or physically confronting them significantly affects the ability of police and partners to manage risk effectively. It undermines the measures already in place to protect the public.
It also requires additional policing resources, reducing our ability to respond quickly and effectively to other calls for assistance from local communities.
There is no excuse for violence, disorder or lawlessness.
Why do you release a person’s ethnicity?
Police Scotland follow national guidelines set by the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Police may consider disclosing the nationality and/or ethnicity of the suspect on arrest, where this is known or recorded, in high-profile or sensitive investigations.
Decisions on whether to release the information proactively or reactively should be based on a local risk assessment, as well as whether there is:
• a policing purpose for doing so
• related risk or impact on public safety, leading to rising community tension at a local, regional or national level
• misinformation or disinformation leading to community tension
• a significant level of media or social media interest