POLICE in Glasgow came under heavy criticism after disrupting a peaceful march on Saturday, arresting protesters and kettling young communists and activists on the cold streets of the city. 

During the march, which saw as many as 100,000 people travel through the city, police in Scotland targeted groups of left-wing activists, including the Young Communist League (YCL), holding them in the cold and wet weather for hours. 

During the global day of action, dozens of YCL members were held on a side street, as police officers held up and intimidated other trade unionists who were taking part. 

In a statement, the YCL’s central committee thanked those from other groups who offered solidarity while the police continued to kettle their members. 

It said that the police had engaged in arbitrary confrontations throughout the day, opposing the group’s right to march with no reasons reportedly given to legal observers. 

It said: “While the planet burns and the custodians of power pay lip service to the problem by setting arbitrary targets for the future at Cop26, the police maintain the status quo and preserve ideal market conditions for the parasites to continue killing our planet and all life on it.”

A number of arrests were made, with some still being held on Sunday morning after a demonstration outside a north Glasgow police station on Saturday night, demanding the release of campaigners. 

Organisers, the Cop26 Coalition, said: “Today’s action by the police in kettling and removing a small bloc of YCL and Living Rent campaigners from the march is another example of the unacceptable policing we have seen at Cop26.”

Campaigners from NotOneRogueCop said on social media that the policing of one section of the climate justice march was “provocative, zealous, divisive and antagonistic.”

The incidents came after around 20 Extinction Rebellion activists and scientists were arrested for occupying a bridge in central Glasgow on Saturday.

In a statement on Saturday night, officers said that the day had passed largely without incident. 

Assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie said that the YCL’s conduct had deteriorated, pyrotechnic devices were used and they brought the procession to a halt.

He said: “As we’ve made clear throughout, our aim has been to deliver a safe and secure conference, and ensure people’s right to protest — and counter-protest — and having their voices heard is upheld through the facilitation of peaceful, lawful protest.”