Cops26

November 4, 2021, 12:29 pm , by Newsroom

Richard Lutz wanders through a phalanx of police into the climate conference in Glasgow

I head down to the famed Squinty Bridge that crosses the River Clyde. It connects the Cop26 bash with the rest of the world. Or maybe keeps it at bay.

I pass the huge spectrum of posters, protests, lobbyists, cranks (save the mushroom?) and earnest folks just wanting a clean planet that won’t kill our successors.

What is noticeable is the sheer amount of uniformed police. They’ve been dragged in from all over Britain. So, if you need to know how, for instance, to get to the public space called The Green Zone or whether you can cross Govan Road without getting arrested, there’s a good chance the police response will be a shrug and a twang of an accent from Leeds, Essex or Wolverhampton.

So, folks, it’s Cops26 here in Glasgow. There are cops in yellow uniforms, cops on motorcycles, in ominous caged vans, on boats, up there in choppers, in bunched groups, in diving gear and, yes, on river jet skis. There’s even a coastguard presence. There were at least a hundred police officers in central Glasgow last night, about a mile from the conference, as they steeled themselves to contain a noisy city demonstration. About what, I’m not too sure because the uniformed presence was overwhelming.

Saying that, it’s not a surly twitchy army of police that sometimes you get at huge public events. They’re accessible, publicly attentive and, on the whole, a friendly lot. And, as above, most have to shrug their shoulders, even the armed ones, when you ask if Finnieston Road is shut or not. Sorry, I’m from West Ham says a Met policewoman with a smile on a cold bright autumn morning.

Once near the Green Zone, a meeting place for hoi poloi like me, police presence slims down and almost disappears.

And inside the event, which is packed with stands, poster events, lectures, films, ethnic presentations, a bunch of environmental virtual reality booths and, best of all, a startingly good planetarium trip through space, it all settles down to a lot of information, bad coffee, an unending cadre of earnest people, a great view across The Clyde through the site’s huge picture window, and space to wander and maybe wonder.

Informal, a bit slack, relaxed…

As for access, the Cop people warned and re-warned punters that we had to have a Q code for free entrance, a confirmation of each specific event we’d chosen and, essentially, proof of vaccinations.

The entry Q code was vital. But as for the vaccine proof, it was ignored. And,as for entry to specific events, such as lectures or debates, there were no checks. It was informal, maybe a bit slack but, vitally, pretty relaxed to learn whether we can have a healthy world to live in.

And of course, if confused, there’s always coppers close by. Even If they wouldn’t know Glasgow from the back end of Trafalgar Square.