Marches, parades and static demonstrations: guidance

Useful links

All UK legislation can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk

Several local authorities offer useful and accessible advice. Examples include:

• Glasgow City Council has an extensive and informative Code of Conduct.
• Midlothian Council provides Guidance and Procedure for the Administration of Public Procession Notifications.
• Moray Council have a useful document explaining its Policy and Guidance on Public Procession for Organisers and Participants.
• South Lanarkshire Council offers a ‘How to guide …’ on public processions.
• West Dunbartonshire Council provides useful links to a range of processions information on their Parades and Demonstrations pages.

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) underpins all UK legislation around marches, parades and static demonstrations.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has several essential resources related to public assembly:

• (2010) Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly
• (2011) Handbook on Monitoring Freedom of Peaceful Assembly
• (2016) Human Rights Handbook on Policing Assemblies
• (2019) Monitoring of Freedom of Peaceful Assembly in Selected OSCE Participating States (May 2017–June 2018)

The Scottish Government has published a number of reports and studies relating to marches, parades, and static demonstrations. Three recent ones are:

• (2015) Community Impact of Public Processions
• (2016) Independent Report on Marches, Parades and Static Demonstrations in Scotland
• (2020) Review of the 2016 Independent Report on Marches, Parades and Static Demonstrations in Scotland

A 2019 Sheriff Court ruling gave a legal opinion on various issues, including the issue of impacts on the community around marches and parades:

• Sheriffdom of Glasgow And Strathkelvin at Glasgow, Note by Sheriff S Reid Esq. in the Summary Application Under section 64 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 at the instance of Apprentice Boys of Derry, Bridgeton (Pursuer) against Glasgow City Council(Defender), [2019] SC GLA 80

Useful advice on public events and entertainments not covered by this guidance can be found in the following:

• Visit Scotland Events Scotland Guidance

Within this guidance the following may be particularly relevant:

• Management Guide
• Event Production
• Health and Safety
• Policing and Security

Useful information on ongoing and planned roadworks can be found at the Scottish Road Works Register