The Scottish Government has set up a group to look at a Northern Ireland style Parades Commission body for Scotland.

The independent group has been tasked with looking at new ways of regulating marches and parades after tension around Orange and loyalist marches in Glasgow in recent years before the pandemic halted parades.

The government said it was taking the step after it made a commitment to look at it “after raised community tensions following sectarian, racist and anti-Catholic incidents”.

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It will specifically consider “whether other models used to regulate marches and parades - including the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland - can be adapted and applied to Scotland”.

Keith Brown, Justice Secretary said there needs to be a balance between the right to march and rights of communities.

He said: “The right to peacefully march and parade is fundamental to all democracies, but the right to march must be balanced with the rights of communities to go about their business undisturbed.

“We are determined to achieve that balance and are open to considering all options which will help to ensure that such a balance is struck.

“The findings of the expert working group will help us as we make progress on this important issue.”

The body will be chaired by Professor Dominic Bryan of Queens University Belfast. Prof Bryan was involved in the development of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland.

He said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to review marches and parades in Scotland and the mechanisms that balance the rights of marchers and the communities impacted by marches.”

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The other members are Lorraine Gillies, Chief Executive Scottish Community Safety Network, Graeme Boyack, Director of Scottish Mediation. And Dr Michael Hamilton, Associate Professor in Public Protest Law at University of East Anglia. Who has helped review the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland.

The groups remit is to “Identify any challenges that are involved in the running of marches and parades and the notification process in Scotland to achieve the right balance between the human rights of organisers/participants with those communities impacted by these events.

“To consider how these challenges could be addressed, and the practical implications of making any changes, and make recommendations based on these.”