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Police Scotland accuses party of undermining the force after officials say it cannot be trusted to defend the public
Senior SNP officials have been accused of undermining police after they called for pro-independence vigilantes to confront far-Right “thugs” in Glasgow.
Graham Campbell, a Glasgow councillor and co-convenor of the SNP Socialists, and Shelly-Ann Brown, the SNP’s national BAME convenor, said Police Scotland could not be trusted to “defend” the public.
They instead called on independence supporters to “occupy” key locations in the city and to “oppose racists on the streets” themselves.
While far-Right riots seen in England have not yet materialised in Scotland, there is concern at a “pro-UK rally” promoted by the activist Tommy Robinson, due to take place in Glasgow City Centre on Saturday.
Police Scotland said they were aware of the plans and had a “proportionate policing plan” in place.
However, SNP figures said condemnation of the plans from Susan Aitken, the council leader, was not enough and “we need to go much further”.
They said Police Scotland’s track record had been “lacking in policing fascist groups” and that the state, also including Scottish courts, would not sufficiently defend potential victims.
“It is now up to the citizens of Glasgow to do that,” they said, in an article for the pro-independence Sunday National newspaper.
“So let’s turn up in our numbers, occupy our key locations and say: “They shall not (and shall never) pass!
“Only then will the police do the right thing and prevent these violent thugs from entering our city centre at all.”
They added: “If independence is a progressive mission that breaks with the UK’s shameful record of racism and imperialism, then the most important place for any independence supporter to be on September 7 is in Glasgow.”
The pair urged supporters to coordinate with the Radical Independence Campaign, a far-Left campaign group, to “build the largest possible mobilisation on the day”.
Police Scotland has said that it has no intelligence to suggest that violent disorder seen in England, following the stabbings of children in Southport, was likely to break out in Scotland.
However, the force is aware of the protest planned for Saturday in George Square which Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League, has threatened to attend in person despite reports he had fled Britain to escape legal charges.
He declared “the British are rising” when promoting the Scottish event and that it was for him to decide whether to “go to Glasgow to stand with my fellow patriots”.
In response to SNP council leader Ms Aitken, who said he was not welcome in the city, he responded “I’ll go where the f— I want.”
Sharon Dowey, deputy justice spokesman for the Scottish Tories, condemned the “violent protests and destruction” but said calls from SNP figures for members of the public to do the job of police were “completely inappropriate”.
“No one wants to see the disgusting scenes which have taken place down south happening here in Scotland,” she said.
“At a time when tensions are running high, political figures should be trying to dial down the situation rather than inflaming it.
“Instead of undermining the police, they should let our valued police force do what they do best rather than creating unnecessary work for them when they are already overwhelmed trying to do their job with one hand behind their back.”
Asked whether they supported the call for vigilantism from their own party officials, SNP backbencher Audrey Nicoll, said: “I am reassured that Police Scotland are in constant communication with their partners across the rest of the UK regarding this issue and I understand they are reaching out to communities in Scotland who may be especially concerned.
“Rest assured, Police Scotland have the powers and authority to deal with disorder of this kind and ensure public safety is maintained,” she added.
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