COUNCIL chiefs have contacted Police Scotland with “serious” safety concerns over an unlicensed pro-independence rally in Glasgow on Saturday.
Police officers are in “constant dialogue” with the local authority after the organisers behind the Hope Over Fear (HOF) rally promised to push ahead with an event in the council’s George Square.
HOF describes itself as an “apolitical” grassroots movement designed to keep the independence cause alive, but senior SNP and Yes figures are deeply suspicious of the organisation.
They believe HOF is a front group for the political rehabilitation of former MSP and Solidarity convenor Tommy Sheridan, who was jailed in 2011 for perjury.
He was convicted over evidence he gave at a previous trial over whether he attended the Cupid’s swingers club in Manchester.
Sheridan is a founding member of HOF, makes keynote speeches at its rallies, and a number of his associates hold positions on the body’s executive.
He is standing as a candidate in Glasgow for Holyrood next year and is believed to be using HOF as a platform to promote himself.
However, HOF’s latest rally, which includes live music and speakers, will take place on Saturday against a backdrop of tensions with Glasgow City Council.
The George Square event, which is predicted to draw in thousands of people, requires permission from the local authority and a public entertainment license.
The council received two applications for use of the Square on that day – the other coming from a pro-Union organisation – and refused both groups.
They did so on the grounds that rival events staging events in close proximity could pose a “substantial risk of disorder”.
However, on the day the event was knocked back by the council, Sheridan promised it would go ahead anyway.
“The nasty Labour unionists on Glasgow City Council have once again denied Hope Over Fear permission to use George Square for a rally on September 19th,” he said.
“Please feel free to post this statement on social media sites and among friends and the wider YES Community. We shall not be bullied here. The anniversary rally goes ahead as planned.”
However, a senior council official emailed Police Scotland this month about the event.
It is believed they said the council had “serious” concerns for public safety due to the absence of a license.
The official also wrote that the HOF rally may contravene section 7 of the Civic Government Scotland Act 1982 - legislation that lays down which activities require a license.
It is also understood the rally, because it was not permitted by the council, will struggle to get public liability insurance.
The event has echoes of another HOF rally earlier this year which went ahead without council permission.
A spokesman for the council said: “There has been no application for a public entertainment licence in relation to this event.
“The application process for a public entertainment licence ensures the proposals for an event are properly scrutinised and provides assurance the event will be run safely.
“Two applications to use the square were made for September 19 and after receiving police advice of a risk of disorder if both events went ahead, we declined to give permission to use the square to both organisations.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "We are in constant dialogue with Glasgow City Council on this matter. Any event taking place will be policed proportionately and appropriately."
A HOF organiser could not be reached.
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