VIOLENT SCENES in Genoa that saw hundreds injured and one protester killed will not be repeated when the controversial G8 summit comes to Perthshire next year, police insisted yesterday.

In 2001 hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the Italian streets leading to chaotic scenes as the police battled to maintain order. Although several groups have said they intend to disrupt the 2005 G8 event to be held at Gleneagles Hotel (pictured), the police are confident of a peaceful summit.

Speaking to members of the Tayside joint police board, head of planning Chief Superintendent Brian Powrie said lessons had been learnt from past problems, including the Timex dispute in Dundee. He outlined details of a comprehensive security operation, including plans to « search and seal » the area in the run-up to the three-day event.

Although keen to avoid complacency, Mr Powrie warned against over-estimating the number of protesters likely to cause problems.

« We have an intelligence structure in place and are not planning around uninformed nonsense or speculative suggestions, » he said.

« Some groups on the internet are claiming to have between 10,000 and 20,000 people coming to the event.

« However, I think these numbers are greatly exaggerated, » Mr Powrie continued.

« There are issues with transport and accommodation here but problems have occurred in the past and we are not being complacent. »

Mr Powrie admitted there is a degree of public concern and stressed the importance of working with the local community to allay fears and prevent the spread of misinformation.

« Hundreds of thousands of people protested when the G8 Summit was held in Genoa in 2001. However, and without wishing to be critical, there are significant differences between policing here and in Italy. »

Police were accused of « battering » protesters during violent scenes in Genoa and the meeting has since been staged in more remote locations such as Kananaskis in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, Evian in France and Sea Island, Georgia, in the US.

« We are learning a lot from previous years and are monitoring things very closely – we are taking the security arrangements extremely seriously, » he said. « We want to allow people to continue with their daily lives as unhindered as possible. »

Mr Powrie admitted the police were as yet unsure where the majority of protesters would converge but said that several locations – including one at Errol and one at the site of T in the Park (the festival is due to be held at the same time) – had been mooted.

« It is possible that protest groups will converge nearby but where that will be we have no idea, » he conceded.

« These groups are currently trying to scope the area and it has been suggested that Errol or T in the Park could be used as convergence centres. It is all speculation at the moment... and of course we are happy to let people protest safely. »

Mr Powrie said that world leaders were expected to arrive at Edinburgh airport on July 4 or 5 (the summit itself is to be held from July 6 to 8) and would be taken directly to Gleneagles by helicopter.

« Those involved will not be going out to Edinburgh or Glasgow or anywhere else, » he said.

« It is relatively easy for the leaders to get to Gleneagles but there are significant grounds roundabout and security arrangements – and I cannot go into precise details – will centre on the hotel and its grounds. »

Mr Powrie claimed that community consultation was being taken « extremely seriously » – a view welcomed by members of the police board, which includes councillors from Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross.

Dundee councillor Joe Morrow was glad to hear legitimate protests would be accommodated. « I want to welcome Tayside police's approach to legitimate protesters, » he said. « People do have legitimate things to say to these very powerful world leaders. »

Meanwhile, Perth councillor Alexander Stewart insisted the summit offered a unique opportunity to the area.

« I have every confidence that this police force will ensure this is a success, » he said.

« It gives us a great opportunity to showcase Perthshire, Tayside and Scotland as a whole. »

Mr Powrie pledged to keep both the public and members of joint police board updated as preparations continue.