Police in Glasgow have apologised after women reported being reduced to tears as they were forced to walk home in the dark due to road closures and diversions in place for the COP26 climate change summit.
Some said they were told by stewards and police officers that they had to walk through Kelvingrove Park on Monday night, and they were frightened at the prospect.
In another example, some Finnieston residents were forced to take a long diversion back to their flats because authorities refused to let them cross the road.
Claire Stewart wrote on Twitter: “I know that COP26 is a big logistical challenge but I’ve just heard first hand that women on foot on their own are being diverted and directed to walk through Kelvingrove Park alone in the pitch black.
“Not safe. These are commuters on everyday journeys who have had to change their routes because of disruption. Sounds like plans need a rethink. It’s getting dark earlier. The park isn’t an alternative option after dark.”
James Campbell added: “My mum and female students getting told by police to walk through Kelvingrove Park in the dark as all other access restricted. Absolute joke.”
Kayleigh Quinn wrote: “Wow, Finnieston residents currently on the north side of the street who live on the south side of the street being told to walk through Kelvingrove, down Byres Road to Patrick and then back to Finnieston to get to their flat 100 yards away. It’s dark.”
Replying to her, Meagan Bennett said she was left “fully in tears with a female officer after she told me I had to do this”.
“I don’t know the deep West End at all and pitch black in the park. I was told ‘There is a heavy police presence’ to help us feel safe. I saw two officers in the entire park. Livid doesn’t cut it.”
Responding to the reports, Scottish Conservative MSP for Glasgow Annie Wells said: “My heart goes out to the women who have voiced their distress at feeling unsafe walking home at night.
“Women’s safety cannot be compromised under any circumstances. It’s totally unacceptable for people to feel afraid because they’re being forced to walk through potentially dangerous routes in the pitch black.
“I urge Police Scotland and the local council to immediately act so that nobody is forced down badly lit paths where they fear for their safety.”
Gary Ritchie, Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland, said: “Residents were diverted on their way home, including on foot through Kelvingrove Park, following real-time changes to operational plans on Monday night.
“While late changes and some level of disruption is inevitable when policing an event the size and scale of COP26, we understand and apologise for the concern these changes caused and for the inconvenience to those diverted.
“We do, in particular, recognise and acknowledge the commentary from some women who had to walk through the park on their own last night. We want to keep everyone safe and we know that the onus is on us to recognise when we could provide some more support and visibility to reassure people in our communities.
“The diversion is no longer in place and there are no plans to reintroduce it. Should further diversions be required at short notice for operational purposes, we will look to establish additional patrols in the area to provide reassurance.
“We will work with Glasgow City Council to consider whether lighting in Kelvingrove Park can be improved.”
A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman added: “We have been working very hard to let people know about the restrictions that are in place for the climate change conference so that they can plan ahead and work around the security measures.
“For on the ground, operational reasons, Police Scotland changed the diversions at short notice last night and diverted members of the public through Kelvingrove Park.
“Police Scotland has apologised for the concern and inconvenience caused by these last minute changes.
“We’d identified an alternative route on the back of the original restrictions via the park to lessen the impact on the public with four additional lighting rigs installed and we understand that members of the public might have taken other routes that we couldn’t have predicted.”
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