BLACK Friday is deliberately designed to whip shoppers into a "frenzy of aggression and violence" a Glasgow MSP has said.

As people across the city and shop staff prepare for a weekend of intense bargain hunting, which last year led to fighting breaking out among customers in some stores, the shop bosses have been warned over their responsibilities to ensure safety.

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow said it is the shop owners who designed the sales tactic and they should be held accountable for any disorder.

He asked the Community Safety Minister in the Scottish Parliament if he anticipated any disorder today and over the weekend known as ‘black Friday’.

Mr Harvie, said: “I am pleased that some retailers have decided not to participate in these events this year, but others are going ahead with this recent innovation, which seems to be deliberately designed to whip customers up into a frenzy of aggression and, in some cases, violence.”

He asked Mr Wheelhouse: “Will the Scottish Government hold retailers accountable if any issues arise in relation to public order or public safety as a result of this deliberate new innovation?”

The minister said that tens of thousands of booklets on dealing with violence had been sent out to major retail outlets across the country.

He warned Police were taking the threat of violence and disorder seriously and retailers were aware of their responsibilities.

Yesterday the Evening Times reported how police in Glasgow were warning shoppers to behave when the stores open and large numbers compete for limited cut price items.

Mr Wheelhouse said some scenes last year were ‘disgraceful’.

Scuffles broke out in some supermarkets over discounted large screen television and people tried to wrestle goods for one another.

He said: “It resulted in some very irresponsible behaviour and quite disgraceful scenes last year, including scenes of physical violence towards staff and other shoppers.

It is not for the Scottish Government to dictate to retailers their practices or how and when they choose to promote certain products, but we fully expect that they will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the safety of their staff and customers and to encourage responsible behaviour.”

He said while sales were an important aspect of the retail industry, he recognised that black Friday was a recent “imported phenomenon” which generated much hype.

He added: “I am confident that retailers are fully aware of the events of last year and will make every effort to ensure that they are not repeated.”

The minister said the Scottish business resilience centre was working with Police Scotland and 20,000 copies of a violence reduction handbook has been issued “to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities to their staff and customers and to encourage good practice.”