TURN UP AND YOU’LL BE LOCKED UP
»»Senior cop says arrests will be made if supporters ignore orders to stay away »»More than 30 officers were forced to self-isolate after Rangers fans’ title party
OLD Firm supporters have been told to stay away from parkhead tomorrow – or they’ll be jailed.
A top officer issued the warning after more than 30 colleagues were forced into isolation following Rangers fans’ rule-busting title party.
FANS have been warned they will be locked up if they show up at tomorrow’s Old Firm clash, following a surge in cases among police officers linked to the Rangers title celebrations.
The Record has learned more than 30 police officers have had to self-isolate after some of them tested positive for Covid-19 after working among the crowds at Ibrox and George Square two weeks ago.
With fears of similar scenes tomorrow, it was speculated that the third derby meeting of the season could be postponed by the authorities.
But Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf yesterday confirmed that the match will be allowed to go ahead as scheduled, with a significant police presence to maintain order.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said officers would be out in large numbers to protect the public and their colleagues.
He said: “For this weekend, we have got a significant policing operation in place and our approach will be the same as it has been right the way through the pandemic – we will engage with people, we will encourage them to disperse and if they don’t heed our warning then yes, we will move into enforcement and we will arrest people but we don’t want to be in that place.
“What I’m urging everybody is listen to the clubs, listen to the messages from your managers and your captains and please, please, please stay at home.”
Thousands of Rangers fans gathered in Glasgow on March 7 to celebrate their team’s first title win in a decade despite Scotland still being under a strict lockdown. The gatherings were described by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as “infuriating and disgraceful” and have been linked to a rise in cases in the Glasgow area.
Celtic supporters also came under fire this season for breaching Covid guidelines in protests outside the club’s home ground this season.
Fans targeted the board of directors and team boss Neil Lennon at Celtic Park after they were beaten in the League Cup by Ross County.
Yousaf had raised the prospect of the derby being called off over fears it could lead to lockdown-breaching crowds gathering.
The game will now go ahead but fears remain that fans of both clubs will show up on Sunday to goad each other outside the stadium.
And there is widespread concern among frontline police officers about the risk of being exposed to the coronavirus.
A number of officers who worked at the March 7 gatherings caught the virus and later came into contact with other officers – forcing them all to self-isolate.
David Hamilton, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “A number of officers who policed the Rangers celebrations have since tested positive for Covid-19 and, as a consequence, many more have had to self-isolate.
“I hope those fans who attended will reflect on whether flouting the health regulations was really worth it.”
The Record understands 36 officers had to self-isolate due to the outbreaks.
A police source said: “Officers are not invincible to Covid-19 and this highlights the risks police are taking daily.
“We have officers who are very poorly and have suffered long-term health problems from contracting the virus.
“Many of those at George Square were not following social distancing guidelines or wearing masks and in some situations it’s also difficult for police to maintain their distance from the public.”
Yesterday, Scotland’s clinical director Jason Leitch was asked if there was evidence of cases rising due to the title parties seen in the city centre and outside Rangers’ home ground.
He said: “There is a time-related uptick in cases across the west of Scotland after the weekend.
“However, we can’t know for sure that one led to the other.
“I can tell you that some Test and Protect interviews – with people who have tested positive – suggest some of them were there.”