No convictions secured under law targeting sectarian hatred online

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Police: Officers have reported a total of 203 alleged breaches of the act. Pic: SNS Group

 

Controversial legislation aimed at targeting sectarianism on the internet has not resulted in a single conviction in the first six months since it was introduced.

 

The Crown office has received 15 reports relating to breaches of section six of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act, relating to communication of threats of serious harm or which are intended to stir up religious hatred, whether sent by post or posted on the internet.

 

From March 1, when the bill came into law, until the end of September, only one prosecution based on the law has been completed, with it not resulting in a conviction being obtained at a Justice of the Peace Court.

 

At the end of September, there were three ongoing prosecutions relating to similar breaches at sheriff court level, a freedom of information request has revealed, while decisions over whether to prosecute are pending in six others and two resulted in action being taken outside of a courtroom.

 

According to the figures released by the Crown, it has received 188 reports from police relating to breaches of the offensive behaviour aspect of the act, which includes "hateful, threatening or otherwise offensive behaviour" expressed at and around football matches which is likely to cause public disorder.

 

It is pursuing 137 of these, with the 51 others either resulting in either no further action, an alternative to prosecution being pursued or no decision being taken yet by the prosecution service.

 

Seven of those prosecuted at sheriff court level have not resulted in any convictions in the first six months of the bill, while a total of 34 resulted in convictions at sheriff court level, although 96 of those cases were still ongoing at the end of September.

 

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC said: "I am pleased to see this legislation is being used appropriately and to such good effect by police and COPFS.

 

"Attending football matches or simply supporting your team, wherever that may be, should be an enjoyable experience for all and should not be spoiled by the small minority.

 

"Football authorities and the clubs are playing their part to tackle the problem with such initiatives as Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card and we will continue working with them, police and other agencies, adopting a zero-tolerance approach to those who are involved in promoting sectarianism, religious offences and football related disorder and violence of any kind."

 

The SNP government voted through the legislation last year, despite widespread objections to it from opposition parties and football fans, who claimed the move "criminalised" supporters.

 

Labour, the Tories, Lib Dems and the Scottish Greens said the bill was a "bad law which risks doing more harm than good".

 

http://m.stv.tv/news/scotland/198491-no-convictions-secured-under-law-targeting-sectarian-hatred-online/

[RANGERRAB 3,385]

would have thought the police had more pressing issues than this to deal with their alleged stretched resources as we're constantly told by their overpaid chief constables. Seems our chum Mulholland is the chief architect behind this. That doesn't surprise me. Is a ST at the Girodome btw? If so wonder what make of the green brigade & their songs? maybe like Speirs he suffers from selective deafness