ian1964 10,596 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Rise in Offensive Behaviour at Football prosecutions as SNP hail controversial legislation THE SNP has released new figures which it claims show the effectiveness of its controversial football laws, with three quarters of prosecutions successful. The figures show a rise in prosecutions under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act, with 132 people were convicted for offences under the legislation 2015-16, compared to 86 and 76 in the previous two years. The total number of people proceeded against by the Crown almost doubled from 96 in 2014-15 to 175 proceedings in 2015-16, with a conviction rate of 75 per cent. The figures come as opposition parties at the Scottish Parliament move to repeal the Act, with a vote last year showing the majority in Holyrood against the legislation. The Act has also been opposed by many in the legal profession, football clubs and prominent figures within civic Scotland but support by others, including LGBT groups, which have voiced calls for it to be extended. SNP MSP James Dornan said: “These figures show that the Offensive Behaviour Act continues to be a valuable tool in tackling sectarianism – and the attempts to scrap the legislation show the opposition have staggeringly skewed priorities. It is absolutely extraordinary that the opposition parties consider scrapping an anti-sectarian law to be one of the biggest issues facing the country, a law which evidence shows the vast majority of people across Scotland as a whole support. “At a time when the SNP Government is focussed on education, health, jobs, the economy and protecting Scotland’s place in Europe, other parties would rather see us remove legislation that tackles sectarianism, prejudice and discrimination whilst offering no alternative in its place. “It is time that the opposition parties got their priorities in order, backed efforts to tackle sectarianism and other hate crimes, and focused on the other issues that really matter to people in Scotland.” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15028397.Rise_in_Offensive_Behaviour_at_Football_prosecutions_as_SNP_hail_controversial_legislation/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boabie 230 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) SNP MSP James Dornan said: “These figures show that the Offensive Behaviour Act continues to be a valuable tool in tackling sectarianism by jailing those hun zombie bastards at every turn. The only mistake made is that one or two of my sellik supporting pals have been unable to sit beside me at some games due to the masonic polis fitting them up. I've already called for an enquiry into that one." Mr Dornan, you're fooling nobody. Edited January 17, 2017 by boabie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrahimHemdani 1 Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 He's certainly wrong about one thing; the legislation does not mention "sectarianism" because the Government could not define it. However, there is no chance whatsoever that the SG will scrap this legislation voluntarily. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinstein 294 Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 It'll take a majority in Holyrood to vote against it. I think most MSP's are against it now 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boabie 230 Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 It'll take a majority in Holyrood to vote against it. I think most MSP's are against it now As a simple getitupye to the SNP I'd think a majority would vote against it now. Quite right too. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.