John Swinney holds meetings with Police Scotland, faith groups and political leaders about riots

dailyrecord.co.uk:

John Swinney has held a meeting with Police Scotland's chief constable, faith leaders and opposition politicians about the riots in English towns and cities.

The First Minister met Police Scotland's Jo Farrell alongside deputy chief constable Alan Speirs and assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie on Wednesday.

He also had meetings at Bute House with the Scottish Labour, Tory, Green and Lib Dem leaders, on top of meting Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and refuge groups.Swinney said the meetings "intended to provide reassurance that this is a time for solidarity".

It comes after mosques were targeted by mobs south of the border in recent days.Swinney said: “My positive meetings today were intended to provide reassurance that this is a time for solidarity and that we are united in our opposition to anyone who would seek to use disorder to divide people.“I have drawn together faith leaders from across communities in Scotland to express our solidarity together - we respect each other and we want everybody to be safe within our society.“I have also brought together leaders of political parties in Scotland for a briefing with Police Scotland to enable the police to set out the work they are undertaking to keep people safe in Scotland, should we face any events of the type that we have seen in other parts of the United Kingdom.“The displays of violence, prejudice and Islamophobia seen in other parts of the United Kingdom have no place in democratic society, and I want to reassure people in Scotland that we have plans and preparations in place to ensure everybody is kept safe.“We are absolutely not complacent and remain vigilant.