The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

Review of Marches and Parades: A Survey of Views Across Scotland

CHAPTER FOUR SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

EXPERIENCES OF MARCHES AND PARADES

• A sizeable proportion of the Scottish population has been involved in, or affected by, some form of march or parade. Much of the experience has been of local gala day parades/carnivals with floats/student rag weeks and similar parades - two-thirds have been spectators at these kinds of parade, over a quarter have been participants and almost half have been 'otherwise affected' (i.e. not participants or spectators but affected in some way by the march, for example, as passers-by or because they live or work nearby).
• Although few have been participants in Orange Order/Irish Republican walks, a quarter have been spectators and approaching half have been affected.
• Around 1 in 7 people have been participants in a political protest or demonstration, a similar proportion have been spectators and a fifth say they have been 'otherwise affected' by this kind of march. Experiences of political protests tended to be more recent than experiences of other types of march.

IMPACT OF MARCHES AND PARADES

• It is clear that many people felt they had gained positive experiences from marches and parades - enjoyment, feelings of community spirit, feeling involved in something important and feeling that they were making a difference.
• Some disruption is caused by local gala day parades but there is more disruption associated with political protests and Orange Order/Irish Republican walks.
• In relation to Orange Order/Irish Republican walks, 4 in 10 of those 'otherwise affected' said they were annoyed or upset by the noise and around half reported feeling angry, offended or upset. A quarter of those 'otherwise affected' said they had felt they were in physical danger.
• Half of respondents agreed that 'Overall, marches and parades benefit my local community' but almost as many felt that 'Overall, marches and parades cause divisions in my local community'.

THE EXTENT TO WHICH DECISIONS ABOUT MARCHES ARE AN ISSUE

• Overall, around two-thirds of respondents indicated that decisions about marches were 'not really an issue' or 'not an issue at all' in their area. The remaining third said that they were either a 'big issue' or 'something of an issue'. Of this third who thought they were a big issue/something of an issue, the majority (i.e. around 15% of all respondents) said this in relation to Orange Order walks.
• The extent to which marches are seen as an issue because of disruption is very similar to the extent they are seen as an issue because of their nature or purpose. This suggests that the two are closely linked.

WHAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN MAKING DECISIONS

• Respondents thought that a wide range of issues should be taken into account when making decisions about marches.
• Overall, the most important considerations were the risk to public safety, freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate, the risk of serious damage to property, and the cost of policing and clearing up afterwards.
• While two-thirds think that 'Freedom of speech is more important than whether someone is angered or offended by a march', and three-quarters think that 'As a general rule, all marches should be allowed unless there is a serious risk to public safety', three-quarters also agree that 'Marches which are likely to inflame racial or religious tensions should not go ahead'.

NOTIFICATION AND INVOLVEMENT IN DECISIONS

• Most people agreed that requiring march organisers to provide 28 days notice to the authorities was 'about right', but that exceptions should be allowed in certain circumstances.
• A majority thought that the council, the police and the other emergency services should be involved in decisions about marches. In general, the view was that that local community groups, residents, businesses and places of worship should be notified about marches in their area but not actually involved in decisions.
• Over a third of respondents said that they, personally, would like to be notified about marches in their area. Their preferred methods of notification were by letter or newspaper advert.

COSTS

• Respondents were evenly split on whether organisers of local gala parades and protests about local issues should pay for policing costs and local authority costs. In relation to the costs of repairing damage and the costs of insurance, a clear majority thought organisers of these types of parade should contribute.
• In relation to both political protests and to Orange Order/Irish Republican walks, three-quarters or more of respondents thought organisers should contribute to policing, local authority and insurance costs, and almost all thought they should contribute towards the costs of repairing damage (90% thought organisers of political protests should contribute and 93% thought organisers of Orange Order/Irish Republican walks should contribute).
• Half of those who thought that organisers of political protests should pay for policing costs also agreed that 'Making marchers pay for policing costs limits freedom of speech'.

CONCLUSIONS

4.1 Parades and marches affect a sizeable proportion of the Scottish population. While there are a number of problems associated with marches, there is also evidence that many people gain positive experiences from them. Procedures for authorising parades and marches must therefore attempt to strike a balance - which may be very difficult at times - between minimising the negative impact of marches and maintaining people's freedom to protest, demonstrate and celebrate.

4.2 The survey indicates that there is a consensus on a number of principles - the need to protect freedom of speech, that marches should be allowed unless there is a risk to public safety, and that marches which are likely to inflame racial or religious tensions should not go ahead. Unfortunately, these principles are not always compatible. This again highlights the inherent difficulty in regulating marches and parades - how to balance one individual's right to protest, demonstrate or celebrate with the authorities' responsibilities to ensure public safety, and to allow other individuals to go about their daily business without undue inconvenience or risk of offence.

4.3 These research findings may serve to highlight, rather than resolve, the difficulties in addressing the public's various concerns about parades and marches. However, they do also indicate public support for a process which involves a number of local organisations and groups, and allows for the consideration of a broad range of issues.

« Previous | Contents | Next »