‘Heddlu’ on the streets of Glasgow as Welsh police officers deployed at COP26

Laura Fleming

‘Heddlu’ have been spotted patrolling the streets of Glasgow this week as officers from Wales were deployed up to Scotland to the COP26 climate change conference.

Police forces from around Wales confirmed to Nation.Cymru that their officers were in attendance at COP26 in Glasgow, with a spokesperson from Dyfed-Powys saying that they were “supporting Police Scotland in Glasgow COP26″.

A spokesperson from North Wales Police also confirmed that a number of their officers have been provided to help out, but added that due to “operational reasons we cannot comment on numbers provided”. They also refused to comment on where they had been deployed.

Welsh police officers in their ‘Heddlu’ uniforms were photographed policing Extinction Rebellion protestors at the entrance of the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow last night.

A spokesperson from South Wales Police said that “where mutual aid is provided, police forces put in place regularly rehearsed contingencies to ensure required policing levels are maintained and demands can be met”.

There are just over 10,000 Police Officers deployed every day of the conference, which lasts a fortnight, in order to provide protection for those in attendance.

‘Support’

Concerns were raised in the Scottish press today over a suspected Covid outbreak that had affected over 100 police officers who had travelled to the frontline of the summit.

According to the Scotsman, more than 100 police officers on duty at the COP26 climate change summit had been taken off frontline duties amid a Covid outbreak scare.

A source from the Scottish Police Federation said that the “officers… have travelled to Glasgow from elsewhere in the UK to bolster the numbers.”

At present, the 100 or so officers were either still waiting on PCR test results or are self- isolating, a “precautionary move,” after their arrival to Glasgow on Monday according to Police Scotland.

However, there is no confirmation as to whether police officers from Wales made up their numbers.

As well as Police Officers working to protect the safety of those at the conference, Police Scotland confirmed on their website that “a range of specialist police units will be deployed… These will include armed officers, mounted police, dog unit, marine unit, road policing and air support.”

The Chief Constable of the host force, Iain Livingstone, is responsible for controlling the overall police operation, which according to Police Scotland website is “friendly, fair, accessible and accommodating”.

All officers in attendance at the conference are under the command and control of Chief Constable Livingstone, and the policies and procedures that are in line with the host force, they said.