Meeting of the Parliament 10 June 2026 [Last updated 14:39]
The actions of a very small number of individuals in parts of Scotland last night, which included the assaulting of police officers and members of minority ethnic communities, are shocking and unacceptable. Violence and racism have no place on our streets, and I utterly condemn the actions of the mindless few who were involved in the disorder and assaults that took place in Glasgow. What happened in Belfast is utterly horrific and unspeakable, and it will already have caused great concern, but the events that followed also caused distress and fear for all, and particularly for some communities.
I think that I speak for the whole Parliament when I express my gratitude to Police Scotland for its response last night. Police Scotland has since established a community reassurance cell, and officers are engaging with communities and stakeholders to understand and respond to their concerns. Police Scotland has also put in place appropriate plans to manage potential further protest activity, including the deployment of specialist public order officers, as required.
Let me be crystal clear: there is no place for racism, hatred and intimidation in our society, nor for the actions of those who seek to stoke those sentiments and division. Those beliefs and actions are not those of the vast majority of people who live in Scotland, who have values of being a welcoming and warm nation.