Police chiefs give Celtic and Rangers list of banned songs in sectarian crackdown

[ian1964 10,409]

POLICE will issue the Old Firm with a list of banned songs as they begin their biggest crackdown on sectarianism.

 

Both Celtic and Rangers will be asked to distribute the list to fans and ask them to stop singing them.

 

The banned songs are thought to include The Famine Song, The Billy Boys and other tunes that glorify terror groups such as the IRA and UDA.

 

Senior Strathclyde police sources say officers are ready to wade into stands to arrest offenders.

 

A source said: "The police and the clubs need to work together and there has to be change in attitude by fans.

 

"Thousands sing these songs but we cannot turn a blind eye any longer.

 

"These songs have to become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving."

 

Persistent offenders will be warned inside grounds.

 

If they fail to stop, they will be arrested and could be taken to court and banned from attending matches.

 

Fury over sectarian singing has increased in a season which has already featured six highly-charged Old Firm matches.

 

The Catholic Church last month compained about singing coming from the Rangers end during the Co-operative Insurance Cup final, which Rangers won 2-1.

 

And Rangers fans have been prosecuted for singing The Famine Song, described as racist by High Court judge Lord Carloway.

 

It contains the words "the famine is over, why don't you go home" and has also been attacked by Celtic chairman Lord Reid.

 

Last month, the Sunday Mail revealed a Celtic fan had received a two-year banning order and a �£300 fine for a song which described Rangers manager Walter Smith as a "sad, Orange b*****d".

 

Lawyer David McKie last month successfully defended police officer Christopher Halaka who was accused of chanting pro-IRA slogans at a Perth taxi rank.

 

He was cleared of breach of the peace with religious aggravation at Perth Sheriff Court.

 

Mr McKie said: "Some songs about the IRA and UDA may be sectarian but singing them isn't necessarily breaking the law. The lyrics may be about history and politics and have nothing to do with religion."

 

Scottish historian Professor Tom Devine, of Edinburgh University, said: "There should be caution until we see how this works.

 

"But questions remain. How are those engaged in such singing to be identified? "Will they be charged with breach of the peace aggravated by sectarian intent? "And will the ban apply to all football matches and parks in Scotland?" Last night Celtic said they were unaware of the plans and couldn't comment on the new measures.

 

Rangers were also unable to comment.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/04/03/police-chiefs-give-celtic-and-rangers-list-of-banned-songs-in-sectarian-crackdown-86908-23035258/

[maineflyer 0]

POLICE will issue the Old Firm with a list of banned songs as they begin their biggest crackdown on sectarianism.

 

Both Celtic and Rangers will be asked to distribute the list to fans and ask them to stop singing them.

 

The banned songs are thought to include The Famine Song, The Billy Boys and other tunes that glorify terror groups such as the IRA and UDA.

 

Senior Strathclyde police sources say officers are ready to wade into stands to arrest offenders.

 

A source said: "The police and the clubs need to work together and there has to be change in attitude by fans.

 

"Thousands sing these songs but we cannot turn a blind eye any longer.

 

"These songs have to become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving."

 

Persistent offenders will be warned inside grounds.

 

If they fail to stop, they will be arrested and could be taken to court and banned from attending matches.

 

Fury over sectarian singing has increased in a season which has already featured six highly-charged Old Firm matches.

 

The Catholic Church last month compained about singing coming from the Rangers end during the Co-operative Insurance Cup final, which Rangers won 2-1.

 

And Rangers fans have been prosecuted for singing The Famine Song, described as racist by High Court judge Lord Carloway.

 

It contains the words "the famine is over, why don't you go home" and has also been attacked by Celtic chairman Lord Reid.

 

Last month, the Sunday Mail revealed a Celtic fan had received a two-year banning order and a �£300 fine for a song which described Rangers manager Walter Smith as a "sad, Orange b*****d".

 

Lawyer David McKie last month successfully defended police officer Christopher Halaka who was accused of chanting pro-IRA slogans at a Perth taxi rank.

 

He was cleared of breach of the peace with religious aggravation at Perth Sheriff Court.

 

Mr McKie said: "Some songs about the IRA and UDA may be sectarian but singing them isn't necessarily breaking the law. The lyrics may be about history and politics and have nothing to do with religion."

 

Scottish historian Professor Tom Devine, of Edinburgh University, said: "There should be caution until we see how this works.

 

"But questions remain. How are those engaged in such singing to be identified? "Will they be charged with breach of the peace aggravated by sectarian intent? "And will the ban apply to all football matches and parks in Scotland?" Last night Celtic said they were unaware of the plans and couldn't comment on the new measures.

 

Rangers were also unable to comment.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/04/03/police-chiefs-give-celtic-and-rangers-list-of-banned-songs-in-sectarian-crackdown-86908-23035258/

 

Blah blah blah, increase police funding, blah blah blah, give me a promotion, blah blah blah. I wonder if concocting crime statistics and openly lying about them to manipulate public opinion and deceive governments is also an offence? Respect for the role of the police, yes. Respect for the police itself, not a chance, devious bastards.

[Cotter 0]

Fucking hell. I'd rather be seen to be a 90 minute bigot than a cowed conformist to a regime governed by ignorant jobsworths. What a fucking joke this has become.

[rbr 1,247]

And these songs have been banned by due judicial process or because some jobs worth has been shut in a cupboard for a few days till he makes alist , absolute shite

[Gribz 743]

Doesnt a law need to be passed in parliament first? Therefore if it has not then it cant be illegal to sing. If its a banning issue then the owner of the place where the song is sung should hold the right to say what is banned where and when.

 

I hope TBB is continually sang loud and proud. The tune to this is sang up and down the UK now by various supports no more so than Man U with the Busby Boys so it cant be 1 rule for 1 etc.

[Zappa 0]

Gribz, there ARE laws against sectarianism, so I'd imagine that the police CAN actually take it upon themselves to interpret those laws as they see fit and write a list of songs like this. If you're walking down the street slightly tipsy signing such a song and you get home fine, then cool, but if you get arrested for it these days then you've been unlucky enough to have a plod take it upon himself to accuse you of being sectarian. If that happens you could quite possibly get done for it. It's turning into a police state big time here in the UK and it'll come back to bite the arses of the people who've made it this way.

[Gribz 743]

Gribz, there ARE laws against sectarianism, so I'd imagine that the police CAN actually take it upon themselves to interpret those laws as they see fit and write a list of songs like this. If you're walking down the street slightly tipsy signing such a song and you get home fine, then cool, but if you get arrested for it these days then you've been unlucky enough to have a plod take it upon himself to accuse you of being sectarian. If that happens you could quite possibly get done for it. It's turning into a police state big time here in the UK and it'll come back to bite the arses of the people who've made it this way.

 

Agree with your post especially RE the police state....but is TBB sectarian??? Even if it is then a change of 1 word is all thats required by fans.

[maineflyer 0]

Gribz, there ARE laws against sectarianism, so I'd imagine that the police CAN actually take it upon themselves to interpret those laws as they see fit and write a list of songs like this. If you're walking down the street slightly tipsy signing such a song and you get home fine, then cool, but if you get arrested for it these days then you've been unlucky enough to have a plod take it upon himself to accuse you of being sectarian. If that happens you could quite possibly get done for it. It's turning into a police state big time here in the UK and it'll come back to bite the arses of the people who've made it this way.

I suspect the only arses it will bite are ours. It's a one way ticket unless and until someone says no and I wonder if that's possible in the apathy pervading society at the moment. One day perhaps, there's always one day.

[maineflyer 0]

Btw, why would the police give lists of banned songs to Rangers and celtic? Are they expecting the two management teams to be singing these songs in the dugouts? Why wouldn't the police simply give the lists to the press and broadcast media so the banned songs could be made known to the public who (presumably) are likely to sing them at football matches. Are the police genuinely stupid or is this another cartload of half truth and bollocks?

[gisabeer 409]

its already biting us on the arse. We are now portrayed has a bunch of mindless bigots by all and sundry and the mhanks are having a field day with us from every angle and were providing the amnunition.

 

we cant have another performance like the cup final. We could end up being deducted points and losing the league. So wether we like it or not the songs have to stop.