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Fears over ‘hangers-on’ as Grand Master joins police for march

The head of the Orange Order in Scotland has admitted he is none the wiser on how to deal with drunken "hangers-on" at his organisation's parades.

Ian Wilson, Grand Master of the Orange Order in Scotland, was speaking after observing one of Scotland's largest Battle of the Boyne celebrations in the company of police.

Saturday's procession through Glasgow, which included more than 10,000 marchers, led to 61 arrests, most for alcohol-related offences and one up on last year's tally.

Three police officers sustained minor injuries while making arrests. In 2005, 85 people were arrested.

An estimated 12,000 people took part in Scotland's other big Orange parade, in Hamilton on Saturday, with police recording just five arrests, three for graffiti.

Mr Wilson took up the invitation to join officers after an approach from the Scottish Executive.

He said that, while he had a greater appreciation of the organisation required for such an event, he was left with the impression that too many officers were deployed on the day.

He also confessed to being "at a loss" as to how to handle the parade's followers, which he described as largely a Glasgow phenomenon.

Mr Wilson said: "The police were professional from start to finish. You must have to be really drunk and aggressive to get arrested because I felt the police were patient in the extreme and enormously tolerant.

"They're in a no-win situation regarding how to police the parade. It's a thankless and difficult job. But my personal view is that they may not need the numbers they put out.

"But what we do with the cheerleaders and drunken followers I just honestly don't know how we move forward."

Full story at The Herald.