Fans group brands top police officer irresponsible for terror comments

Assistant police chief Bernard Higgins. A POLICE chief has been accused of being “irresponsible” by a football supporters campaign group after he warned Scots fans should expect police to act over support for terrorist organisations.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins spoke out after Fans Against Criminalisation (FAC) were critical of him warning controversial Celtic supporters group the Green Brigade to leave politics at the turnstiles or face being arrested.

It came a day after it emerged FAC had warned of a “genuine danger to civil liberties” and the continuous criminalising of the young over minor offences if a controversial law aimed at tackling bigotry at football matches is not repealed.

Last month Mr Higgins insisted his officers would not tolerate any offensive displays by the hardline supporters.

But the FAC said while the policy of the European football ruling body Uefa prohibits political expression within the context of a football match within their control, Scottish law does not.

The group said Mr Higgins was not simply fulfilling his role as Assistant Chief Constable by advocating that fans abide by the law, but goes “well beyond that relying on his own personal views and tastes to attempt to restrict the political expression of citizens of a modern European democracy in 2017”.

But Mr Higgins said: “Over the years I have policed many events where political views have been expressed. That is what we do in a democracy. There is a massive difference between expressing a political view or supporting a terrorist organisation.

“If FAC want to sit down with me I will happily explain my position and reasons for it, however I would reiterate that any person showing support for a terrorist organisation should expect my officers to act, and thereafter it will be a matter for the Scottish courts to decide.”

But the FAC has hit back saying: “His attempt to obfuscate this issue by mentioning terrorist organisations is disingenuous at best.”

Paul Quigley of FAC said: “It would be best if Mr Higgins ceased making unhelpful and irresponsible statements.”