Police vow over marching season

The Orange Order organised more than 800 marches in 2003

Tough action against unruly elements during this summer's marching season has been promised by police.

Officers said they would use their new powers to prosecute anyone committing sectarian offences.

It follows a parades review earlier this year which called for marches to be better organised.

However, local council group Cosla said the Scottish Executive had not yet committed to fund the extra measures brought in by the review.

Good behaviour bond

The parades review, carried out by former Strathclyde Police chief constable Sir John Orr, recommended that every march should be assessed so that the community can be consulted.

He suggested marches be blocked if there was a risk of intimidation to the local community or of serious disruption.

Under the measures, groups must give 28 days notice of a march, instead of the present seven.

They may also be ordered to pay a good behaviour bond, which will be forfeited if marchers cause trouble.

Sir John also said that there should be fewer marches in Scotland.

There were about 1,700 parades in 2003, with almost half being held by the Orange Order.

As far as the teenagers who storm down the pavements and cause problems, we'd ask them to away Robert MacLean Orange Order

He said that there were occasions when there were three Orange marches in one area on the same day, which fuelled controversy over the parades.

Cosla president Pat Watters said: "There is a lot more bureaucracy which goes along with what the Orr report says and that means a lot more work for local authorities.

"We need the funds because there is a lot of bureaucracy attached to this: the consultation with the communities; the assessment reports; the consultations with the marchers, but there is also necessary legislation that needs to go through as well."

The Orange Order said its lodges wanted to create "a family atmosphere" at its parades and urged those who were intent on causing trouble to stay away. Sectarian behaviour

Robert MacLean, a spokesman for the Orange Order in Scotland, said: "As far as the teenagers who storm down the pavements and cause problems, we'd ask them to away.

"We'd ask the police to be more robust when it comes to that and they should take more action against this type of people."

Strathclyde Police Deputy Chief Constable Ricky Gray said officers were ready to deal with sectarian behaviour.

He added: "The main area of focus for us this year will be on those who follow the parades, those who perhaps behave in a loutish manner, don't conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, that's the area of attention for us.

"We do that already around football matches, where we have aggravations of a breach of the peace.

"If it was a sectarian-aggravated offence then that would be incorporated in the police report and the court would give due cognisance to that."