Royal Week event - update
Police Scotland engaged with hundreds of people and worked in partnership to ensure the National Service of Thanksgiving was delivered safely without significant disruption.
The constitutional event took place today [Wednesday 5 July 2023] and hundreds of peaceful protestors were facilitated.
His Majesty King Charles III was presented with the Honours of Scotland at the event held at St Giles’ Cathedral.
Police Scotland’s supporting role was to help the organiser deliver their event safely and securely.
Hundreds of interactions took place with spectators and protestors throughout the day. Four people were arrested during the event and a further four people were later issued with a recorded police warning.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, police lead for the event, said: “This significant constitutional event took place safely without any disruption to the ceremony or people’s procession.
“Safety was our priority and a number of actions were taken to ensure this, which included an open approach to engaging with potential protest groups.
“Over the past few weeks, our protest liaison team have been speaking to protest groups, we set up an Independent Advisory Group to help guide our approach and, in coordination with the event organiser and the local authority crowd safety manager, we worked hard to identify dedicated protest areas to maximise public safety, balanced against people’s rights to protest.
“I would like to thank the overwhelming majority of protestors who engaged with us and also our officers whose professionalism helped ensure the safe delivery of this event for everyone who attended.
“Decisions about how to police protests require us to balance complex and often competing rights and issues. We have a legal duty to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest.
“Our priority is public safety and a policing plan was in place to maintain people’s safety, ensure the safe delivery of this event, enable peaceful protest and minimise disruption.”
Breakdown of arrests
x2 women arrested in connection with a breach of the peace after allegedly attempting to climb over a crowd safety barrier on the Royal Mile.
x3 men and x1 woman arrested for alleged threatening behaviour and failing to desist. Arrest later changed to a Recorded Police Warning.
x1 man arrested for theft
x1 man arrested in connection with an outstanding warrant
