THE security operation for the UN climate change summit will be the biggest the UK has seen “for many years” and will present “logistical challenges” to all forces in Britain and Northern Ireland, police chiefs have warned MSPs.
A briefing note to members of a Holyrood committee ahead of its meeting tomorrow said there was a recognition the event, tasked with producing an international response to the climate emergency, would impact on frontline policing both within and outwith Scotland.
The Police Scotland document tells MSPs: “It is widely recognised that the policing of COP26 will impact across the UK through significant mutual aid requirements from Home Office police forces to safely deliver the policing operation.
READ MORE: Ruth Wishart: Will Glasgow pick up a reputational tab if COP26 goes pear-shaped?
“While there exist well established frameworks for the provision of mutual aid, extensive logistical challenges will arise from what will undoubtedly be the largest mass mobilisation of police officers in the UK in many years.”
Some 200 heads of government and a record 30,000 delegates are due to attend the COP26 event at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) from November 9 to 20.
The Scottish Police Federation have said that around 6000 officers will be required each day, which equates to 2000 per shift.
The briefing updates MSPs on the arrangements the force is making for the conference and was issued to members of Holyrood’s justice sub-committee on policing before Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Bernie Higgins gives evidence to it tomorrow.
It also tells MSPs that the force is planning for significant protests at the event and will be deploying armed, uniformed, public order, and undercover officers.
READ MORE: Yousaf says there was 'no argument' from Gove on COP26 costs
“The wider Police Scotland command structure is being developed with a number of individuals having taken up position to drive forward planning and delivery in respect of key business areas including armed policing, public order policing, road policing, intelligence and logistics,” it said.
Scotland’s Chief Constable, Iain Livingstone, said earlier this year he believed the cost of policing COP 26 could run to as much as £200 million, and warned it was “fanciful” to suggest it would not have a major impact on people living locally.
He said: “Candidly, it is my professional opinion that any suggestion that the climate change conference will not impact on the wider community of Scotland is fanciful.”
In the briefing to MSPs Police Scotland said work on the cost of the security operation was ongoing and warned it would need additional funding.
A separate note to committee members from the Scottish Police Authority – which has revised estimated policing costs to £180m – argued the bill should be covered by the UK Government.
“As this is a UK Government event, they are the funding authority and have responsibility for overall governance and assurance of all aspects of the event,” it said.
READ MORE: UK Government blocks shared use of Glasgow Science Centre for COP26
Last month, a row broke out between the UK and Scottish Governments over the use of buildings near the SEC. The UK Government wants to use the Glasgow Science Centre (above), but Scottish ministers have already booked it.
Updating Holyrood yesterday, Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the Scottish Government had agreed to let the UK Government use the centre.
She said: “I have written to the COP26 president to offer the transfer of control of the Science Centre to the UK Government on the provision that we are offered an appropriate alternative venue. I therefore urge the UK Government to conclude this matter without delay to ensure we have a platform to pursue increased global action.
"We want to use COP26 as a catalyst to attract new investment, innovation and sustainable growth for Scotland, that will firmly position Scotland as a world leader in tackling climate change.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here