World leaders and the people of Perthshire will be given equal priority when Tayside Police mount the biggest security operation the area has ever seen at next year's Gleneagles G8 summit, writes Eric Nicolson.

Prime Minister Tony Blair announced last night that the luxury Perthshire resort is to host the annual gathering of eight industrial nations – the USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Russia, France, Germany and Italy – next July.

In previous years protesters have latched onto the event, and with the threat of terrorism looming larger than ever before, locals have expressed their reservations about the world spotlight falling on Perthshire.

Assistant Chief Constable of Tayside Police, Willie Bald, this morning moved to assure the public that his force is ready for the challenge that hosting the G8 summit poses.

He said, « Tayside Police welcomes and is looking forward to policing the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles. The decision by the UK government to hold the summit at Gleneagles is recognition of the international reputation of the police service in Scotland.

« The eyes of the world will be on Scotland and our country's police service before, during, and after the event. This is an opportunity to show the rest of the world just how well we can police such a major event but also, more generally, to showcase Perthshire on the world stage.

« Tayside Police and the other forces in Scotland have vast experience of policing major and large events and I am confident that our collective experience and professionalism will make this a summit to remember – for all the right reasons.

« We recognise that there will also be some understandable concerns about the impact of the summit on local communities. That is why we are already working closely with Perth & Kinross Council and many other agencies to ensure we have everything in place to make the summit a peaceful and safe one for everyone involved – both the world leaders and local residents.

« A dedicated planning team for the event is already in place and over the course of the next year we will be working with members of the local community to manage the necessary disruption and to address any concerns they may have. »

Four police officers from Tayside have been in Georgia, in the United States, this week for the 2004 G8 summit, and ACC Bald was keen to stress that it has passed off peacefully.

« Tayside Police is planning a major security operation but one which will allow those who want to protest peacefully and lawfully to be able to do so. The police service in Scotland supports lawful protest and before any protesters come to the Gleneagles area we would hope that they would work closely with us to reach solutions that are acceptable to everyone, including members of the local community in Auchterarder and further afield.

« Any groups intent on causing any lawful disruption in or around the Gleneagles area can rest assured they will be dealt with using the full force of the law. »

Aid, as required, will be available from other forces across Scotland and the UK. ACC Bald admitted that it was a « reasonable scenario to speculate on » that protesters may choose other parts of Scotland rather than Gleneagles itself as the focal point for their demonstrations.

Chief Executive of Perth & Kinross Council, Bernadette Malone, described the county as the « perfect backdrop » for the G8 summit and pointed out that the local authority's key priority before and during the summit is to « ensure the local community are kept fully informed ».

The Minister for Finance and Public Services, Andy Kerr MSP, represented the Scottish Executive at today's G8 announcement in Perth.

He said, « This is great news for Scotland. We will be working closely with Perth & Kinross Council and Tayside Police to make sure the world leaders receive a warm Perthshire welcome. I'm confident we will put on an excellent event. »