Police ready for Glasgow protests when Donald Trump visits
Police said as yet they do not have any intelligence of large-scale protests being organised but officers from throughout the UK will be deployed across several locations.
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Assistant Chief Constable, Emma Bond is the Gold Commander for the policing operation.
(Image: Colin Mearns)
At this stage the police will be reacting to spontaneous protests.
She said: 'To some extent we are still waiting to see how the protests will manifest itself.
"We are aware, obviously, of events planned not related directly to the President's visit in Glasgow for example, on Saturday.
'But whenever we look back to 2018, we are very much aware there were people who came out to exercise their right to protest.
'Thousands of people came out across a range of different places.
"We saw that predominantly across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Ayrshire, so we are working on the basis, as the start of our planning, that we would expect to see protest in those areas.'
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Police Scotland said it would police protests proportionately and is centred on being positive and engaged with individuals and groups
She added, however: 'Let me be very clear that abusive, threatening behaviour, any activity that in any way seeks to disrupt an event or any activity that puts the safety of the public at risk is not lawful protest and there may well be consequences from a criminal justice perspective.
'It is a qualified right under Human Rights and not an absolute one and therefore there may need to be decisions taken but we will deal with every aspect of protest in the way that we do on any other day and make sure that is proportionate and seeks to balance the right to peaceful protest.'
Police said they always look to engage with any groups looking to protest ahead of events to ensure a 'no surprises' policing operation.
But so far, there hasn't been specific contact, either to or from any groups.
ACC Bond added there is nothing at this stage to give concern.
She added: "When large numbers of people gather together, there may be issues that arise. People come out and exercise their right to peaceful protest.
ACC Bond said Police Scotland will be 'upfront, honest and clear' about how it polices protest.'
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