G8 summit protest cases dropped

Police arrested more than 350 people during the summit

The procurator fiscal has decided to drop about a fifth of the remaining cases against protesters arrested during the G8 summit in Scotland.

The Crown Office said proceedings against 59 people were discontinued, with 240 cases still outstanding.

A total of 358 arrests were made during the gathering of world leaders at Gleneagles in July.

A leading human rights lawyer has repeated his call for an inquiry into police handling of protests.

The largest number of those arrested came from England with many others from Scotland, Germany and Belgium.

They were detained for a variety of alleged offences including disorder and possession of offensive weapons.

The vast majority of people arrested committed no crime as they were there to peacefully demonstrate Aamer Anwar G8 Alternatives

Announcing the reduction in the number of cases, a Crown Office spokeswoman said: "As with all reports to the procurator fiscal, every G8-related case is considered on its own facts and circumstances.

"In each case, the circumstances were such as to merit an initial appearance from custody in court, and the imposition of bail conditions to prevent any possible re-offending during the summit period.

"In 59 separate cases the procurator fiscal has decided, having reviewed the individual facts and circumstances, that it was appropriate to discontinue proceedings."

Aamer Anwar, human rights lawyer and G8 Alternatives spokesman, said: "The vast majority of people arrested committed no crime as they were there to peacefully demonstrate.

'Appropriate channels'

"There were English police officers who acted aggressively and now I see what we predicted all along - that when the Crown had a chance to look at the cases they realised there was no likelihood of successful prosecutions.

"The Scottish Executive should take responsibility because it seems that the Scottish police had absolutely no control over the situation - it was controlled by the Home Office."

A Scottish Executive spokesman said: "The executive has no plans to conduct such an inquiry.

"Individuals who wish to complain about the police handling of a particular case should do so through the appropriate channels."