Police Scotland must take “robust action” against those causing disorder at far-right protests before “someone is seriously hurt or killed”, campaigners have warned.
A cross-party group of MSPs, MPs, trade unionists and activists met in Glasgow today to send a united message that Scotland has “zero tolerance for racist violence and protests that are a threat to public safety” following shocking scenes at a Unite the Clans anti-immigration protest last month.
Violence erupted at Glasgow Green and around the city centre on July 25 as demonstrators and counter-protesters confronted each other and police.
According to officers, 1,700 people took part in the protests, with 15 people arrested for offences including assault, possession of offensive weapons, breach of the peace, obstruction and resisting arrest.
It was one of the largest anti-immigration protests of the year so far and follows a number of similar protests across the country.
Campaigning lawyer Aamer Anwar claimed it was now clear “the far-right have played a central role in the all too frequent random attacks on people of colour on the streets of Glasgow.”
Speaking at a press conference, he continued: “Vigilante patrols have taken place under the pretence of protecting women from sexual violence whilst targeting innocent people, while mobs have turned up outside hotels and elsewhere.
“We are very much now at a critical turning point. I don’t need to spell out the events of two Saturday’s ago Unite the Clans protest, the Nazi salutes and the racist violence perpetrated by masked mob of thugs trying to run riot through the city centre, while also trying to march on Glasgow Central Mosque.
“The police at times lost control as masked thugs simply ran out of Glasgow Green, Police Scotland’s attempt to facilitate the right to protest and inability to control the chaos at Glasgow Green, clearly emboldened far-right elements to act with impunity.”
View 3 ImagesDemonstrators during an anti-immigration protest, organised by Unite the Clans Scotland, at Glasgow Green(Image: Lesley Martin/PA Wire)
Anwar added: “The intention of the press conference is a united front with politicians, trade unions, faith groups, anti-racist organisations, civic groups, women’s groups and others to speak out and call out the far-right and so-called protest groups for what they are; but we also to increase pressure on Police Scotland to act more robustly.
“The increase in these protests has left the police with an overtime bill of £1.1million, with 3000 days off cancelled for officers and it has been stated the demands are having a significant impact on officer welfare. Across the City the actions of the far-right have left sections of our communities scared and at times fearful of going out.
“Police Scotland need to understand that public safety is paramount, where criticism is valid it will be made, they have our support to take robust action against the far-right, to implement the use of the laws that exist, but they urgently need to do something, before someone is seriously hurt or killed.”
View 3 ImagesLawyer Aamer Anwar (Image: PA)
Glasgow MSP Monica Lennon, who is campaigning to become the next Scottish Labour leader, said: “Today is about standing together in the face of hatred, and saying with one voice that racism, political violence and intimidation have no place in Glasgow or anywhere else in Scotland.
“Protecting our communities is bigger than any one politician or organisation.”
Lennon added: “We know the far-right want to divide us by race, religion and background. They want to turn working class people against each other.
“Our answer must leadership, solidarity and action – from the highest political office, to every neighbourhood in Glasgow, and indeed Scotland, because we all have to be in this fight together.
“I call on the First Minister to ensure Police Scotland has the funding and resources to keep Glaswegians and visitors to our great city safe.”
It comes after the Record revealed the rise of so-called “silent protest” with fascist imagery. They feature men in military grid formation, who gather as a wreath is presented, stating: “We apologise.”
The statement sits alongside a note in Italian: “Il fine giustifica i mezzi”, which translates as: “The end justifies the means”. The so-called apology is understood to refer to the way the UK has allowed mass immigration to happen.
One such protest took place outside the Daily Record office in Glasgow last month after we first reported on the gatherings.
Asked by the Record for a response to Anwar’s comments, Police Scotland pointed to a previous statement made by Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell at a recent meeting of the Scottish Police Authority.
ACC Waddell said: “Since 2025, the protest landscape has changed considerably, with officers managing the direct impact of international conflicts, UK incidents, online commentary, and local community tensions.
“In 2025, we deployed resources to just shy of 2,200 protests, which was up almost 20 per cent on the previous year, and this demand has continued into 2026.
“Anti-immigration protests accounted for 144 protests across 19 towns and cities, with Falkirk accounting for just over 50 per cent of them.
“There is a real impact. We have cancelled 3,000 rest days, and we’ve spent over £1m in overtime payments to deal with the protests we face.
“The policing of protests operates within the legal framework of the Human Rights Act 1998. Police Scotland must balance the rights of freedom of people to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, with the rights of communities, individuals and wider society.
“The threshold for restricting protests is high. Our approach has to start from the presumption that peaceful protest should be facilitated, even if the message may annoy or offend others.”
Waddell added: “But it’s absolutely crucial to distinguish between lawful protest and criminality that occurs at a protest, or criminal or extremist behaviour that seeks to use the current protest landscape as cover.
Article continues below
“Where there is evidence of criminality, Police Scotland will take robust action, including retrospective investigation.”