Row as G8 courts closed to public
7 Jul 05
Anger as courts closed to family and friends of G8 protesters
Campaigners have citicised a decision by Lothian and Borders Police to prevent members of the public from entering Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
It meant that scores of G8 protesters appeared without family and friends watching after police told them they were not allowed inside.
The move by police was condemned as giving a "bad impression" of the country's criminal justice system by John Scott, chairman of the Scottish Human Rights Centre.
He said that such a decision should only have been taken if trouble was taking place, not as a preventative measure.