ONE of Scotland's leading police figures and the organisation representing rank-and-file officers have called for parading organisations to use public parks for their events, expressing frustration at the limits of current legislation on marches.

David O'Connor, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), said the legislation governing parades was outdated and called for greater use of conditions for organisers.

He said 54,000 man hours went into policing 1100 parades in 2010, and added that using parks would alleviate much of the disruption to public life from processions and improve public safety, as opposed to closing down the streets at taxpayers' expense.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) called for a new national approach to processions, adding that although it, too, supports greater use of parks, "such is the nature of the emotion allied to such parades that we consider the potential compromise of public safety to be an inherent feature irrespective of location".

The calls come a day after Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced that the Scottish Government was considering legislation to limit the impact of parades on police resources, and that he had been in contact with police groups to discuss the matter.

They also come a week before the biggest event of the Orange calendar in Scotland, the annual Boyne celebrations in Glasgow commemorating the victory of the Protestant King William of Orange over the Catholic James in Ireland more than 320 years ago.

Some 50,000 members of the Orange Order from across the UK and Ireland, as well as band members, will parade through the city centre, with tens of thousands following the event.

In a letter to Glasgow SNP MSP Humza Yousaf, Mr O'Connor said: "I would welcome exploring options around greater use of more appropriate public spaces capable of dealing with large assemblies of people.

"Some parades can significantly increase the risk of outbreaks of serious crime and disorder, yet in terms of human rights some means of facilitating rights of freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and association is a duty that the police must perform.

"I believe there is a need to give greater consideration to the conditions that should be applied, and if necessary enforced, but would hope the various parties involved in such parades will consider alternative times, routes, venues etc."

On the main relevant legislation, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, he adds: "Much has changed over time. Our roads are busier, Scottish society has developed; it is more diverse and less willing to tolerate hate crime, drinking in public places and antisocial behaviour.

"The need to minimise the potential for disproportionate adverse economic impact must also be considered.

"I believe the time is right to debate the issues around such parades and whether it is now time to consider alternative approaches that enable people to exercise their human rights while minimising the disruption to others who wish to enjoy their own rights to family life."

Calum Steele, general secretary of the SPF, added: "We consider it preferable this disturbance [to the public] takes place in larger public spaces than in residential streets.

"In large public areas, participants can muster safely and be provided with toilet and other necessary facilities.

"In general, the SPF would be supportive of a national policy on parades and would support fewer parades."

Mr Yousaf said: "I wholeheartedly agree with both the SPF and ASPS that we start to explore the option of using other public spaces for these kind of marches, therefore minimising disruption to others who wish to enjoy their own rights to family life without disruption."

Grand Master of the Orange Order Henry Dunbar said: "At a time when some parts of the Middle East are fighting and dying for the right to assemble freely in their city streets, it is rather ironic to hear calls from some sectors of our own police force to prevent us from walking peacefully through the streets of our own city.

"We parade through the streets to celebrate our own culture and heritage while trying to be as open and transparent as possible to others who may not know what our organisation stands for. So while some may not share our beliefs, we hope that there are many who respect our right to hold those beliefs, just as we will always respect the rights of others."