Public procession

Any moving event held in a public place anywhere in Scotland can be considered either as a parade or a procession.

How to notify the Council of your intention to hold a parade or procession

If you wish to hold a public procession, march, parade or demonstration you should notify the Council at least 28 days before the event, giving details of the date, time, route and the estimated number of participants.  Complete the following forms and send to Licensing, Legal and Governance, Perth and Kinross Council, Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD or email CivicLicensing@pkc.gov.uk.

1. Complete a notice of proposal to hold a public procession form (PDF, 184 KB)(opens new window)
2. Include a completed proposed public procession risk assessment (PDF, 238 KB)

You must also agree and adhere to the public processions code of conduct (PDF, 33 KB).

Important Note

It is requested that you ensure early engagement with Perth & Kinross Council Traffic Network Management Team to discuss adequate traffic management, control or road closures if you intend to walk on a public road.  It is advisable to do this at least 6 weeks before the planned date of your event.  The Team can be contacted on 01738 476476 or email RoadsNetworkManagement@pkc.gov.uk.   Perth & Kinross Council will forward your Notification to Police Scotland.  Please note that Police Scotland may not be able to provide Police Officers for road closures.  Therefore, it will remain the responsibility of the organiser to make necessary road closure arrangements to maximise the safety of procession participants and other road users.

Viewing a list of public processions

To ensure that communities are aware of public processions, marches and parades in this area, all submitted notifications are published online.

Commenting on a planned procession

If you wish to comment on a procession which is planned, you can do so in writing to Licensing, Legal and Governance, Perth and Kinross Council, Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD or by emailing CivicLicensing@pkc.gov.uk before the last date specified for comment.

The European Convention of Human Rights gives a 'right to freedom of peaceful assembly', and the Council has a positive obligation to protect that right. However that right can be restricted, for example to protect public safety or prevent disorder. The Council cannot prohibit a procession simply because some people may be offended by it.

The issues we will consider are the likely effect of the holding of the procession in relation to:

• public safety
• public order
• damage to property
• disruption of the life of the community

We will also consider where the organiser has previously held a procession in our area (or the people likely to take part in the procession took part in a previous procession), whether the procession took place lawfully and in accordance with any conditions imposed on it.