Free peaceful processions from red tape
Last updated 21:58, Wednesday, 06 August 2008
DUMFRIES MSP Elaine Murray is pressing for Common Ridings, galas and Remembrance parades to be exempted from the red tape imposed by regulation on public processions.
She believes the rules make organising the region’s traditional Common Ridings and galas unnecessarily burdensome.
Dr Murray said: “The Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act, passed in 2006, was intended to address some of the public order issues caused by sectarian or political marches and demonstrations.
“Although funeral processions were the only exemptions in law, the intention was that the organisers of community events such as galas, Common Ridings, Ridings of the Marches and Remembrance parades should not be subject to increased bureaucracy as a result of the legislation.
“This has not been the case in Dumfries and Galloway where the council issues one form covering all types of processions and organisers of community events are required to supply information which is not relevant to their type of events.
“Council officials were under the impression that they were obliged by law to gather this information.
“However, when I contacted the cabinet secretary for justice, Kenny MacAskill, on this matter, he confirmed the intention of the legislation was not to impose burdensome administrative procedures on processions which did not cause significant issues.
“Mr MacAskill also said local authorities could submit a case for exempting particular types of processions from the notification process.
“Having passed his response to the council, I was delighted to receive a reply advising that the council intends to prepare a report setting out recommendations for exemptions to go to Scottish ministers in relation to Common Ridings, community galas and Remembrance parades and to raise the issue with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.”
