Sectarian concerns of police officer

One of Scotland’s most senior police officers said there are concerns about rising disorder and sectarianism at football matches.

Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr said he is surprised at how “normal” sectarianism and aggression towards the police is from some fans.

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

His comments came as Police Scotland said they are investigating reports of sectarian singing at Hearts’ ground Tynecastle on Wednesday when the Edinburgh side lost 2-1 to Celtic, as well as reports of coins being thrown from the away stand.

At a Scottish Police Authority board meeting in Greenock, Mr Kerr said: “The vast majority of fans who go to these football matches do so entirely peacefully and just want to enjoy the wonderful spectacle that is Scottish football.

“But what I’ve been surprised at over the last six months, particularly when it comes to behaviour at football matches, has been two things.

“One has been that level of sectarianism on display, and I say that having policed in Northern Ireland for nearly 30 years.

“I’ve been surprised at how much it is seen as normal... It feels almost visceral in a way I haven’t experienced for quite a while.”

Mr Kerr added: “I’ve also been surprised just at the level of disorder on display at some of the football matches. And we have been concerned, particularly over the last 12 months, that there has been a rise in...that type of offensive behaviour, and the levels of aggression to police officers.”

“We’ve had officers pulled off horses, spat at, attacked – very aggressive behaviour towards them.”

Mr Kerr said clubs, fans, police and councils all need to look at what can be done differently to change this behaviour “from being normal to being unacceptable”.

He said part of that will be enforcement, but “we’re certainly not 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.