ACC Waddell said there must be no repeat of the disorder and violence in the city earlier this week, when people were “targeted because of the colour of their skin”.
He added: “The behaviour witnessed as rightly been condemned across Scotland as it does not reflect the country’s values.
“There is no place in Scotland for racism, hatred or violence of any kind.”
The disorder was sparked after footage of a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night was shared widely on social media.
Hadi Alodid, 30, originally from Sudan, was charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie.
In parts of Northern Ireland hundreds of masked people took to the streets and violence followed.
The disorder was restricted to pockets of Belfast and other towns, but across Northern Ireland schools and shops closed early, and public transport shut down.