Park visitors warned that alcohol not welcome in Kelvingrove

Published: 1 April 2021

Council officers and police will be staffing gates at Kelvingrove Park on select days this summer to help address on-going concerns of anti-social behaviour within the park.

Officers will be stationed at park entrances on days when high visitor numbers are anticipated with the primary aim of preventing alcohol from being brought into the park.

Measures to manage access to the park were introduced last year following a series of incidents that saw mass gatherings in spite of the covid-restrictions, public drinking, public urination, significant littering and disorder, which included assaults on police officers. The introduction of managed access to the park led to a significant drop in anti-social behaviour in and around Kelvingrove on busy days.

This year gates will only be closed on a temporary basis on days when it is expected that large numbers will congregate in the park.  On those days visitors will be channelled towards 7 gates at the north, south, east and west of the park where community enforcement officers and police will engage with park users. Anyone seeking to enter the park in contravention or the intention of contravening the park management rules will be refused entry. The two access points for NCN 756 cycle route, which passes through the park, will remain open.

On days where we expect fewer numbers, GCC staff and Police Scotland officers will have a presence in the park and continue to engage with park users and enforce these rules where appropriate in accordance with legislation.

George Gillespie, Executive Director, Glasgow City Council, welcomed the shared commitment from the council and police to ensuring Kelvingrove Park remains a welcoming environment for all visitors.

Mr Gillespie said: "Kelvingrove Park is a fantastic asset for Glasgow and it must remain a safe place for everyone who wishes to visit. Unfortunately alcohol- fuelled disorder has caused fear and alarm in the past, but last year's intervention to stem alcohol from being consumed in the park made a big difference.

"Having enforcement officers and police waiting at a limited number of entrances to prevent alcohol coming into Kelvingrove helped to make a visit to the park a far more positive experience. This year we will only be limiting the number of open gates when we have to.

"But if we have reason to believe large numbers will gather we can move quickly to have staff waiting at entrances to remind visitors of our park rules that indicate alcohol is not welcome in Kelvingrove."

Early spring sunshine has already drawn large numbers of people to the park. This led to the mass gathering to dispersed by police to ensure observance of the on-going covid-control restrictions.

Chief Inspector Natalie Carr said: "We understand people will want to take advantage of the good weather and enjoy Kelvingrove Park, but we want to ensure it's a safe space for everyone. We know that the antisocial behaviour in the park is often fuelled by alcohol and because of this we will be working in support of Glasgow City council to enforce the council park rules which prohibit the possession and drinking of alcohol in the park.

"If you do decide to come to the park with alcohol, it will be confiscated and you may be fined for consuming it. We want everyone to enjoy the good weather in the park as it is often in short supply here in Scotland, but people's safety must always come first."