Cops award in fight against sectarianism
Police officers in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are among the first in Scotland to receive an award for challenging sectarianism in the two towns.
The officers, with colleagues in Lanarkshire division, were presented with the ‘Champions for Change’ Award by antisectarianism charity Nil by Mouth.
The award recognises the efforts of organisations who tackle bigotry and demonstrate that it has no place in Scotland.
Police in Lanarkshire have been carrying out a number of activities including actively engaging with licensed premises in the area to promote the issue as unacceptable and encourage them to join the campaign against sectarianism.
Every new officer in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang stations, as well as all Police Scotland youth volunteers, are introduced the forces’s zerotolerance approach to hate crime and the educational work underway to tackle the issue.
Officers have also been working with Nil by Mouth to organise joint workshops in local schools to ensure young people are properly educated about the effects of sectarianism and make the right choice not to engage in this type of behaviour.
Chief Superintendent Roddy Irvine said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of Lanarkshire Division. Since taking over as the local police commander in January, I have been wholeheartedly impressed by the innovative partnership approach to challenging sectarianism that has been forged between my officers and Nil by Mouth.
“Education and awareness raising are the key components in making hate crime a thing of the past. Whether by bespoke inputs to our new officers and Police Scotland Youth Volunteers, encouraging young people to pause before they post on social media or through fusing learning and leisure in organising events, I know that we have lived up to the new status this award confers upon us; a Champion for Change.”