Police warn of rise in 'sectarianism'

[JFK-1 1,671]

Police warn of rise in 'sectarianism & consistently thuggish behaviour' at football

 

A senior police officer who spent almost 30 years in Northern Ireland is shocked at the "almost visceral" level of sectarianism in Scottish football.

Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr, who joined Police Scotland six months ago said they are concerned about how "normal" sectarianism and "consistently thuggish behaviour" has become.

It comes as it emerged police are investigating reports of sectarian singing at Tynecastle - as well as coin throwing from Celtic fans - during a Scottish Premiership game on Wednesday.

Footage showed an object almost hitting Hearts goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal during the game, which finished 2-1 to the league leaders.

 

Police have not confirmed in what area of the ground the singing was reported, but they have urged anyone with information to contact them.

Earlier this month, Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd criticised Celtic fans after being hit by a coin and subjected to sectarian abuse while warming up as substitute during the sides' meeting at Rugby Park.

The problem, previously termed "Scotland's shame", returned to the headlines recently after Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke highlighted the abuse he received from Rangers fans.

The club's chairman Dave King later apologised to Clarke and said everyone at Rangers "abhors the sectarian element that continues to be so prevalent in Scottish football."
 

Kerr made his comments at a Scottish Police Authority board meeting in Greenock after being asked by David Crichton, chairman of NHS Health Scotland, if there was evidence of an increase in sectarian abuse and offensive behaviour at football grounds.

He referenced recent incidents such as a flare being thrown at a police horse, officers being pulled from horses and others being spat at and attacked.

Kerr added: "What I've been surprised at over the last six months has been two things. One has been that level of sectarianism - and I say that having policed in Northern Ireland for nearly 30 years.

"And I've been surprised that the consistently thuggish behaviour of a very small number of fans is considered normal. This is not normal. It is a sport.

"On both fronts there is a responsibility and a need for everybody, including the police service, to challenge ourselves about how much that's considered normal and what we can actually do to address it."

When asked about data on these incidents, Kerr said it was "hard to quantify" and that his comments are based on the anecdotal evidence of officers policing the matches.

He added that Police Scotland would "certainly not be going to arrest our way out of this".

An independent review of policing at football matches in Scotland is due to be launched next week.

 

Speaking on BBC Scotland's Debate Night on Wednesday, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said football clubs had to "show much more leadership to their fan base" on sectarianism.

The cabinet secretary for education and skills acknowledged that the behaviour was not limited to "just two clubs".

"It has no part in 21st century Scotland," Swinney said. "I'm not even sure it had a part in any part of Scottish society at any stage of our history. But in the 21st century let's get beyond it."

When asked how long the government gives the clubs and authorities to address the issue, SNP MSP Swinney referenced the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, which was repealed last March.

"I know that act was unpopular in certain quarters, but in other quarters people thought 'Thank goodness the government has stuck its neck out'," he said.

"We had that legislation overturned by every other party in parliament - against the wishes of the SNP - because we felt clear, emphatic, decisive leadership was required on this question.

"We'll continue to do that, but fundamentally we expect the football clubs to demonstrate more leadership than they're currently demonstrating on this subject."
 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47406591

[ian1964 10,415]

 

[craig 5,195]

5 hours ago, ian1964 said:

 

1.  Politics don’t belong in football, UEFA disbarred it, has SFA ?

2.  Glorifying proscribed terrorist groups is in breach of the Terrorism Act.  So it’s actually illegal

[ian1964 10,415]

 

[barca72 440]

How is this sectarian problem going to be solved?
On the one hand we have Dornan - one-sided approach.
on another we have Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr and his approach - Police Scotland would "certainly not be going to arrest our way out of this",
on yet another we have Deputy First Minister John Swinney who said football clubs had to "show much more leadership to their fan base" on sectarianism.
Blame the proddies, no arrests and blame the clubs - deja vu !!
Anybody confident that the results of our national leadership actions will be successful?

[buster. 4,808]

4 hours ago, barca72 said:

How is this sectarian problem going to be solved? 

There are many more pressing problems that have considerably more tangible damage on people and society in general.

 

This is about pushing a relatively low level priority narrative that is orchestrated in a predictable fashion by a familiar cast.

 

 

 

 

 

[ian1964 10,415]

 

[ian1964 10,415]

Scottish football clubs which fail to stamp out sectarianism risk having to play matches behind closed doors — and even having their grounds shut down for weeks.

The Sunday Times understands that SNP ministers favour handing sweeping new powers to local councils to license football stadiums in a drive to improve public order and safety.

The Scottish government is expected to indicate its support for the idea within weeks after becoming increasingly concerned about poor behaviour at matches.

Last week deputy chief constable Will Kerr, who spent almost 30 years in Northern Ireland, told of his shock at how “normal” sectarianism and “consistently thuggish behaviour” have become.

Police are investigating claims of offensive chanting at Tynecastle and reports of coins being thrown onto the pitch at a Hearts-Celtic match last week. A small group of fans were filmed chanting “I hope you die in your sleep Brendan Rodgers. . . with a bullet from the IRA” in an Edinburgh bar game as the Celtic boss quit for Leicester.

It came as Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke hit out at Rangers fans who called him a “****** b******”.

Justice secretary Humza Yousaf said: “When it comes to tackling unacceptable conduct at football, governing bodies and individual clubs must take serious measures to tackle this unacceptable behaviour. However, it would be foolish not to also consider what additional action could be taken. We will continue to consider the full range of options and I will listen to ideas from across the parliamentary chamber, be it strict liability or exploring what can be done within current licensing laws. Nothing is off the table.”

In an interview with The Sunday Times today, Irvine Welsh, the bestselling author, said he backed Rangers and Celtic being forced to play matches behind closed doors if they do not act decisively. He claims an unhealthy willingness to accept “weekend bigots” is to blame for the sectarian chanting that has enveloped Scottish football in recent weeks.

The SNP MSP James Dornan has proposed legislation to make professional football clubs strictly liable for their supporters’ behaviour. Sanctions under strict liability would include warnings, fines, annulment of match results, the closure of sections of grounds, playing matches behind closed doors and the docking of points.

However, ministers are understood to have cooled towards that idea, believing its introduction could be “legally challenging”. In 2013 Scottish clubs rejected a move to introduce it. However, similar sanctions and ground closures, potentially forcing home games to be played away, would be open to local authorities through licensing.

This week will see the publication of the report into policing at Scottish football matches commissioned last September by Kerr following an incident at Celtic Park after an Old Firm game when five people required medical treatment. The report, by deputy chief constable Mark Roberts has considered operational planning, intelligence gathering and resource deployment.

Labour MSP James Kelly, who led the campaign to scrap offensive behaviour at football legislation at Holyrood, indicated that he is open to new controls.

He said: “There is a challenge to the clubs and football authorities to come forward with constructive proposals to ensure responsible behaviour. Previously I have not endorsed strict liability or licensing. However, if the clubs and authorities do not engage positively I would need to consider these approaches.”

Liam Kerr, the Scottish Tory justice spokesman, said giving councils new powers would “have to be considered very carefully”.

Meanwhile, in a new book Tom Devine, Scotland’s leading historian, and fellow Edinburgh University academic, Michael Rosie, argue that recent media reports of religious hate crime against Catholics in Scotland are overblown and have heightened social anxieties.

They write: “Unpleasant things can indeed be seen and heard at football matches, episodes of drunken neddery and parades, but this is not the tip of some bigger and deeper ‘sectarian iceberg’. Rather it is all that remains of a social malaise in terminal decline.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/old-firm-to-face-ground-closures-for-foul-chants-qcs80m2h6

[compo 6,134]

Personally I dont think sectarianism is any worse these days from when I was a boy one thing that might help the future generations would be if they all attended the same schools from infancy and leave religion to the weekend. 

[onevision 1,442]

So are they gonna employ a compliance officer with selective hearing to make the final call on sanctions?