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Review of Marches and Parades: A Survey of Views Across Scotland
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE SURVEY
1.1 In June 2004, the First Minister, Jack McConnell, appointed Sir John Orr to undertake an Independent Review of the procedures for authorising marches and parades in Scotland. Under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, local authorities have responsibility for deciding whether a march or parade should go ahead, be prohibited or have restrictions placed on it. While the Review is being undertaken on the assumption that this will continue to be the case, recent concerns have highlighted the need for a review of specific issues, namely:
- the period of notice required to be given to local authorities, the police and communities for proposed marches and parades
- the best way to ensure community input into decisions about marches and parades
- the basis for determining when to restrict, refuse or re-route marches and parades
- the number of marches and parades occurring in communities and the effects these have
- the cost of policing marches and parades
1.2 The Review covers all processions, from political demonstrations to local community pageants. It therefore needs to take account of a range of views - those who wish to march in different types of marches/parades, the communities affected, and the authorities responsible for public safety.
1.3 A number of methods are being used to gather the views of a wide range of people. Sir John Orr wrote to over 1,000 people inviting written views and has met with over 125 people in 45 separate meetings. This survey supplements that information by exploring the views of a broadly representative sample of the Scottish population. The findings will inform Sir John's final report, to be submitted to the First Minister in December 2004.
AIMS OF THE SURVEY
1.4 The aim of the survey was to explore respondents' views of parades and marches in general, and, in particular, those that take place within respondents' local communities. More specifically, it explored:
- individual views on parades and marches
- individual experiences of parades and marches
- the impact of parades and marches on individuals and the wider community
- views on how the community should be consulted and engaged in matters relating to applications for, and planning of, parades and marches
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH METHODS
1.5 In summary, the survey method was:
- computer-assisted telephone interviews with 676 respondents across Scotland
- Random Digit Dialling to achieve a random sample of landline telephone numbers within each of the 8 police force areas in Scotland. To allow some analysis of results by police force area, approximately 150 interviews were undertaken in the Strathclyde Police area and 75 interviews in each of the other 7 areas.
- to take account of the geographically disproportionate sampling, the data was weighted to provide a sample representative of the geographical distribution of the Scottish population
- quotas were set within each police force area in order to achieve a sample broadly representative of the adult population in terms of age, sex and working status
1.6 Annex 1 contains further details of the weighting and quotas, and the profile of the achieved sample.
Questionnaire design
1.7 The full questionnaire is appended at Annex 2. The main topics covered were:
- experiences of different kinds of march or parade as a participant, spectator or someone 'otherwise affected' (e.g. as a passer-by or as someone who lives or works nearby)
- positive and negative impacts of different kinds of march or parade (e.g. community spirit, enjoyment, being held up or delayed, feeling angry, upset or offended)
- whether decisions about marches and parades are perceived as an 'issue' in respondents' local communities
- views on what should be taken into account when making decisions about marches and parades
- the amount of notice which should be required from march organisers
- who should be involved in decisions about proposed marches and parades
- views on whether organisers should contribute to costs
- demographics
1.8 Encouragingly, feedback from interviewers suggested that respondents were keen to take part, interested in the subject and seemed to think carefully about their answers.
A NOTE ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS
1.9 The survey was designed to provide information on the views and experiences of a broadly representative sample of the Scottish population. It was not designed to provide data on the number of marches of different types which are taking place, or to provide participation rates.
1.10 Strictly speaking, statistical theory does not apply to quota surveys. However, as a guide to the reliability of the results, we can be reasonably confident that the results for the whole sample (i.e. where the base size is 676) are accurate to around +/- 4% at the 50% level. In other words, if 50% of all respondents said 'yes' in answer to a question, we can be reasonably confident that the 'true' result is somewhere between 46% and 54%. Differences in results between groups have only been commented on where there are of a level to suggest that there is a real difference in opinions or experiences.
1.11 Some analysis has been undertaken to identify differences between police force areas and key demographic groups (sex, age-groups, social class and, in relation to Orange Order/Irish Republican marches, religion). However, further analysis of the current data and further research would be required to explore the underlying reasons for any differences and the interaction between demographic variables.
1.12 The Review covers all types of march, from local gala day parades to large scale political demonstrations to Orange Order/Irish Republican marches. The survey was therefore designed to cover all types of march. Orange Order/Irish Republican marches are covered, and some differences between Protestant and Catholic experiences of these marches are examined. However, the survey is not a survey of experiences of sectarianism. Further, although Orange Order walks are more common than Irish Republican walks, it is important to bear in mind that the survey questionnaire deliberately made no distinction between the two. Any assumptions that groups of respondents are likely to be referring to Orange Order walks rather than Irish Republican walks, or vice versa, are speculative.
STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT
1.13 Chapter 2 presents the findings in relation to the experiences and impact of different kinds of march. Chapter 3 looks at views about decisions and general principles. Chapter 4 summarises the main findings. Details of the sample design and weighting are contained at Annex 1 and the survey questionnaire is appended at Annex 2.
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