Police justify eviction strategy

POLICE officers were drafted in from 40 miles away to help evict a Glasgow grandmother from her home.

Strathclyde Police have said they mobilised resources in every division in the force area, bar two, to secure the eviction of Margaret Jaconelli last month.

Some officers travelled from East Dunbartonshire and Ayrshire to form a 100-strong support unit for sheriff officers.

They were acting under authority from Glasgow City Council, who say they need Mrs Jaconelli's home in Dalmarnock as part of the area being developed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Sheriff officers used hammers to break into the fortified flat. Strathclyde Police said officers were drawn from Ayrshire, Glasgow Central and West, Glasgow North East and East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow South and East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said it was common for large numbers of officers to be used at "major events."

She added: "The system is known as 'mutual aid'. You do not want to take 30 officers from one particular area. It ensures that no community is being left without any officers."