As Plans for the Annual Boyne Celebration March in Glasgow Reach Their Final Stages, We

As plans for the Annual Boyne Celebration March in Glasgow reach their final stages, we speak to Campbell Corrigan, Assistant Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police about the change in approach that has been taken to this year’s event:

This year has marked a significant change and, dare I say, a significant improvement in the relationship between Strathclyde Police and the Orange Order. For many years now, we have worked with your organisation to help you facilitate your marches, but our relationship has often been fraught and is not one that could easily be described as a partnership.

I am delighted to say that this is no longer the case. I believe that we are now very much working in tandem to make sure that your events take place safely and in a manner which allows you to celebrate your traditions without causing unnecessary disruption to the city.

The reason for this change is quite clear to me. It is not because of any Local Government review or any change in policy on marches and parades. No, for me the reason that our relationship has been strengthened is due to the willingness of all parties to work together and to find common ground.

One clear example of this has been in regards to the number of Police Officers on duty during the Annual Boyne Celebration event. For many years now, the Orange Order has told us that they believed that the March was over policed and was causing an unnecessary burden on the public purse. This has always been an issue that has had a negative impact on our relationship both before, during and after the event.

However, working with you, we have found a solution that will dramatically reduce the number of Officers who will be on duty at this year’s event – without any impact on public safety. Like all good solutions, this was a simple one. Over the past few weeks we have been working with the Orange Order to provide training to your members so that they can act as marshalls at the event. The more properly trained marshalls you have, the less Police Officers we have to have on duty.

This is just one example – albeit an important one - of our better relationship and our improved way of working together. It is a welcome step forward.

I appreciate that there is a public image of the annual Boyne parade that you do not want and that we cannot tolerate. The drunken, loutish behaviour that we all too often see on the day is an embarrassment to your organisation and is something that I am absolutely determined to stamp out.

However, I want to assure you that I can see the distinction between the people who are expressing their democratic right to march through the streets as part of the Parade and the people who see the event as an excuse to get drunk and behave appallingly.

That is why this year, the Police that we will have on duty will not be there to marshall the progress of the Parade, rather they will be there to directly tackle public drinking, sectarian singing and other antisocial behaviour. It is a cliché to say it, but it does not make it any less true. We will be taking a zero tolerance approach on the day.

However, I do not want to dwell on this part of the day. My message is a positive one. I believe that the planning for this year’s Boyne Celebration Parade in Glasgow has marked the start of a new chapter in the way in work with you. I look forward to continuing this work in the weeks, months and years ahead.

Campbell Corrigan

Assistant Chief Constable

Strathclyde Police