More police patrols after Glasgow sex attacks
Police patrols have been stepped up in parts of Glasgow which have seen a series of sex attacks, the justice secretary has said.
Kenny MacAskill's comments came the day after thousands of people took part in a midnight march on the city's south side, to highlight the issue.
He told MSPs extra car and foot patrols were being carried out in the city centre and other parts of Glasgow.
Mr MacAskill also paid tribute to those who organised the march.
The night time event, called These Streets Are Made For Walking, began at Queen's Park on Victoria Road in Govanhill, near the scene of the rape of a young woman last month.
Mr MacAskill told the Scottish Parliament that, following an attack in Glasgow's Merchant City area on 8 June, police immediately launched an extensive inquiry and deployed a large team of specialist investigators, supported by local officers.
"The sexual assaults that have taken place in the Glasgow area, including the incident last Sunday, are very distressing," the justice secretary said.
"Police Scotland have since deployed extra foot and car patrols in the city centre and areas where the other attacks took place."
Glasgow Labour MSP Anne McTaggart, who went on the midnight march, told MSPs: "I joined thousands of Glaswegians who want to reclaim their streets from sex offenders and who object to the idea that they should have to stay indoors for their own safety."
Ms McTaggart also expressed concern police patrols had been hit by "the backfilling of admin and clerical roles", after the single, national Scottish force was set up.
Glasgow Kelvin SNP MSP Sandra White said the Merchant City and city centre were well-policed, adding: "I'm really sorry that Anne McTaggart chose to politicise such a horrific crime."