ACTIVISTS occupying a disused community space in Glasgow in order to provide safe accommodation for campaigners and indigenous groups have slammed heavy-handed police presence at the site. 

Members of the Baile Hoose Collective say that their peaceful work at the site has been interrupted by officers in recent days despite their legal right to remain there. 

The group has taken over the former Hamish Allan Centre to house people, who organisers said have been forced to sleep in the city’s parks during the climate summit.

Occupiers accused the police of attempting to scare those taking part and had prevented activists from entering or leaving the premises.

The group identified more than seven police vans, who reportedly blocked the only entrance to the site. 

A representative for the group, who identified themself as Betty, told the Star: “They were quite intimidating in their behaviour. They were quite confrontational. 

“This is harassment that travellers, squatters, activists have faced forever from the authorities. They wouldn’t do that to the business across the road. It was a show of force.”

Betty said they planned to remain at the site well into next week and hoped to see the building put back into public use after Cop26 ends. 

Those at the site said that as well as a safe space for activists and delegates to sleep, the building will host workshops, discussions and meals for the community in the coming days.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “We received reports of a number of people occupying an unused building on Centre Street, Glasgow.

“Police officers have engaged with the people inside the building.”