Police Scotland under scrutiny after plasticine T shirt detention

Police Scotland faces questions after a viral video showed an officer detaining a man for wearing a T shirt in support of a protest linked group.

Police Scotland under scrutiny after plasticine T shirt detention video

On Saturday 16 August 2025, hundreds marched through Glasgow as part of a National Palestine rally organised by the Stop The War coalition. After the protest, a video circulated showing a Police Scotland officer detaining a man who wore a T shirt reading Plasticine Action: We oppose AI generated animation. The design mirrors shirts used by supporters of Palestine Action, a protest group proscribed by the UK government in July, a status that carries serious legal risk for supporters.

Police Scotland said no arrests were made and that they had not received any complaints about the incident. The Scottish Human Rights Commission had warned earlier in August that freedom of expression could be at risk in the policing of Palestine protests. The National reported ongoing police visits to activists under terrorism laws, while government officials defend the proscription. The episode raises questions about how anti-terror powers apply to political expression and whether such policing could chill lawful dissent.

Analysts say the incident exposes a broader clash between protest rights and security policy in the UK. Using anti-terror laws to police symbolic clothing risks creating a chilling effect that suppresses peaceful dissent.

Politically, the episode comes as rights groups call for clearer guidelines and more accountability in policing protests. It may push lawmakers to clarify when police action crosses the line and could influence future reviews of anti-terror powers and protest policing.

Highlights

Policy and practice may diverge as this issue unfolds.