A senior Tayside Police officer has defended its actions at a Europa League football match marred by violence.
Superintendent Brian Weir was speaking at a meeting with city councillors on Monday to discuss the new arrangements for keeping them informed of policing activities in Dundee once the new single force takes over in April.
He had prepared a report on crime figures and operational matters, but was asked by Labour group leader Kevin Keenan why his list of notable events did not include the fighting between Dundee United and Moscow Dynamo fans during their Europa League qualifier in August.
Mr Keenan said the scenes at Tannadice had been ”unacceptable”, especially with so many young people watching.
Mr Weir said part of the reason for the meeting was to determine what level of detail councillors wanted to see in police reports but he added that, once the trials of those charged in relation to events at the ground were held, it would become clear what had happened that night.
”The police response was certainly not lacking at the time,” he told the meeting.
Councillors also heard about the impact of Dundee FC’s late admission to the Scottish Premier League (SPL), which created several schedule clashes that would have seen them playing in the city on the same day as United.
Mr Weir said: ”As a result, following discussions with both clubs and the SPL, it was agreed to trial low-risk fixtures being played on Friday evenings and, if successful, to consider playing further low-risk fixtures on Friday evenings where future home clashes occur the criteria for success being minimal disruption to local residents, minimal impact on policing the evening economy in Dundee and commercial success for the clubs.”
He added that a review of Friday night games would be held at the end of the season, but he hoped such scheduling problems would not recur.
Among notable events he listed was the involvement of Tayside officers in policing the Olympics. Officers were banned from taking leave during the games to ensure sufficient numbers remained in the region.