By Andy Newport

THE OFFICER in charge of Tayside Police's G8 Summit security operation has hit-back at national newspapers' treatment of the announcement that some Auchterarder locals will have to carry access passes.

And Chief Superintendent Brian Powrie also highlighted the Herald's coverage as an example of how the story should have been handled.

He spoke out during Auchterarder Community Council's meeting on January 20 after several members of the national press focused on the fact that the force would be handing out identification cards to locals as young as eight-years old during the Summit between July 6-8.

The Herald also carried the story on December 31 but we reported the full quote from Chief Superintendent Powrie, in which he stated that "it is standard procedure for such events to require those who live close to the venue to carry identification so they can go though any police checks with the minimum of inconvenience."

However, he felt it necessary to point out once more that the measures would allow locals to enter and leave the area with minimum fuss – as opposed to the force using the scheme to keep an eye on residents – while also clarifying reports that put the numbers of affected residents as high as 500.

"What was reported in the national press was a lot of nonsense," he said. "They said it would be 500 people who would be given the documents. I don't know where they got that from.

"Only around 100 people who live very close to Gleneagles Hotel will be given access passes so that they can get in and out of their homes with ease."

The access passes are part of a £150million security operation for the summit which will be attended by leaders from Britain, America, Canada, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union.

Chief Superintendent Powrie praised the Herald for its impartial coverage but also aimed a warning at local MSP Roseanna Cunningham against confusing the issue with the Labour Government's plans to introduce ID cards across the country.

The Crieff-based SNP representative at Holyrood told the Herald in the last edition of 2004: "This is an absolute outrage and I cannot see how it can be unilaterally imposed on the people of Gleneagles. Here is a warning, before they are introduced at a national level, of how ID cards can be used to control the actions of ordinary people."

But Chief Superintendent Powrie retorted: "Some people even tried to link this sensible move with the national issue of ID cards, which has nothing to do with what we're doing in Auchterarder during the G8 Summit.

"The Strathearn Herald covered the story fairly with balance and carried our full explanation but what some national papers reported was just nonsense. These stories should be treated with caution."

The head of Tayside Police's G8 security planning operation also stated that he felt it was unlikely that protesters would be camped on the fields belonging to local farmers, after Community Council Chairman Peter Everett noted rumours that 2000 anti-globalisation demonstrators were preparing a site near Aberuthven.

Chief Superintendent Powrie said: "If someone wants to protest then they must apply to Perth and Kinross Council for a change of use permit, drinking regulations, catering rules and many other things.

"If they did not seek approval it would either be criminally or civilly unlawful."

He also moved to reassure residents that traffic around the area would only witness minor delays, either due to protesters or restrictions placed as part of the security effort, but they were working to find the best alternatives by discussing the plans with local taxi drivers and road users.

His message came as he announced that Sergeant Ian Martin had joined his team to assist in making sure the transport infrastructure was not majorly affected during the three-day meeting of world leaders in which poverty in Africa will be one of the main talking points.

"There's a distinct possibility that protesters will choose to carry-out a sit down protest on the A9 or elsewhere but we are trained to move them as it is unlawful to sit on a road!

"However, the disruption could even come from a road traffic accident. I would say that travelling may take slightly longer but you will still be able to go your usual routes."