The SNPs parliamentary majority and comfortable lead in opinion polls makes it likely they will pass their Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill this week, once and for all removing government and police responsibility to produce separate reports on sectarian crime. Instead, a range of offenses, some new, some old, will be lumped together, including a myriad of profanities.
Alex Salmond’s government has been reluctant to provide a breakdown on sectarian crime despite being asked to produce them since 2007 and has presided over the destruction of all but last year’s data. Even the release of this data required research and analysis to divine the nature of the crime.
They have also refused to re-collect data from police records, demonstrating shocking arrogance on a subject they have invested enormous amounts of resource elsewhere on. Your last window on sectarian crime under this government, acute though it is, is about to be bricked in.
The Government have also politicised the police in a manner reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher’s government during the miner’s strike. An Anti-Sectarian Crime unit appeared on the ground, without any reference to churches and community groups most affected by sectarian crime. After the Nottinghill Carnival riots of the 1970s the Metropolitan Police learned painful lessons about how necessary it was to involve community groups and leaders in any action which can be perceived to be focused on any specific section of society.
The leadership of Strathclyde Police, which looks likely to benefit from Scottish Government changes to stage a takeover of the entire Scottish police operation, appears to be, quite literally, 35 years behind their London counterparts, who long ago learned that community engagement comes first.
In the light of how they have served each other’s interests with little regard to the public, this cosy relationship of non-consulting and ambitious number of police officers from Glasgow and Holyrood politicians must be prevented from harvesting control of a combined Scottish force – the biggest prize up for grabs in policing in decades.
The proposed Bill has received almost no support from the football community and faith groups. Repealing it and de-politicising ambitious police officers will surely be one of the key promises of Salmond’s political opponents at the next Scottish Parliament elections, who will at least be able to find a popular rallying call.
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bournesouprecipe says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:06
I’d agree with that. UEFA’s decision will reflect that of the the SFA’s.
Where does that leave Phil’s article?
I’ve a lot of time for the guy but lately he seems to be missing the exposure he received at the height of Dallasgate and the Rangers tax issues.
His credibility took a bit of a thump after he had to pull the article over expenses to Stephen Davis’ agent.
He’s a better journalist than this. I hope he avoids pointless speculation and sticks to what he’s good at.
I might not be as educated as you Mr aweanaw but again I repeat that gives you no right to abuse me in the way you did. Why do you not pick on Paul67 whenever he makes spelling mistakes or grammar errors?
Wasn’t it Robert Noyce who once said “There are three types of people on this planet. Those who can count, and those who can’t.”
Or was that Gordon Brown?
I think a dose of realism is in order on Thursday evening a weakend Celtic side due to injury travel to play the Italian league leaders and im sure we all accept the Italian league is streets ahead of the SPL.If we are to have any chance of beating them it may come from the fact that Udinese have already qualified for the next round and may decide to play a weakend side.If they play a full strength side I must be honest and think it will be a matter of trying to keep the score respectable.However, My best wishes go to the Bhoys and I hope they get lots of good luck.H.H.
philvisreturns says:
12 December, 2011 at 12:48
Were the police politicised during the miners’ strike?
That’s debatable. I think they were more interested in enforcing the law than in playing political games in those days.
_________________________________________________
Yes, you’re probably right. After reading your disinterested and impartial perspective on the 1980s I now know that the savage non-stop beatings of the Birmingham 6, the extraction of confessions from the Guildford 4 at gunpoint, the destruction of John Stalker’s career, the deployment of MI5 informers to monitor miners’ leaders were all aberrations.
bigdanistheman says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:38
Your right. I´m wrong. I´m sorry.
HAil Hail
What do you do if your grammar is poor?
Teach her how to save energy
Make sure she’s collecting all her state entitlements
Make her meals (she won’t see it as a handout if you take gifts in kind)
Hmm. Regarding Sunday’s match v St Johnstone, does anyone know if it is being televised as showing as a 1500 kick off?
AweNaw @ 13.40
“Your right”.
That should be “You’re (you are) right”.
Are you pretending to be an adult?
BontyBhoy
I take it you’re subtlety saying, you don’t like him even when he doesn’t have the ball at his feet ;-) and he’s fulfilling all his many attributes.
Agree more with Luxcelt who makes the counter argument.
We are talking Bosman, journeyman and it’s unlikely he’ll be listed, in January as he doesn’t have a market value, to attract a buyer, or a fee.
In terms of fitness and reliability he is the antithesis of Glenn Loovens who’ll probably be a Bosman as well, come June 2012.
Thanks for trying Kittoch but there’s obviously no reasoning with him. I thought it was only Christians that celebrated Christmas, surely he can’t be one after some of they comments
79caps says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:45
yep
HAil HAil
Awe_Naw
Sitting in work with a tear in my eye… ;)
Good article.
Those like me who voted SNP must be having second thoughts about the wisdom of doing so.
It is difficult to gauge how this will back-fire on the SNP but it will harm them of that there is no doubt.
Excellent article Paul67,
well done for sticking your neck out in such a creepy atmosphere, which can produce a ‘Polis to smash marxist fan group’ spiel and take no-one by surprise.
BlantyreKev at 13:39
The one I heard was “There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who can count binary and those who can’t.”
Mort
BlantyreKev – Hail Hail to the Kano Foundation says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:42
What do you do if your grammar is poor?
Get her a date with Davie Weir.
Boom Boom.
Big Swee at 13:43
Think I remember reading last week that it wasn’t on TV. The first away game not be televised for a while.
Mort
RogueLeader – philvis @ 13.23 – I will break my own rule and talk about politics but I have to agree with you. All these Euro summits are completely and utterly pointless. They are akin to giving a terminal cancer patient a lung transplant. The Euro is dead, the sooner this accepted and the transition began the quicker some stability can be brought to ALL western economies.
Yup, the quicker Europe rips off the plaster, the quicker the pain will end and the healing can begin. (thumbsup)
cavansam \o/ – Any idea what impact a toasted Euro will have on the UK economy?
It’ll be a horrible, painful mess when it all falls apart.
However, the alternative is a horrible, painful mess prolonged indefinitely.
Imagine a sword of Damocles made of especially sticky dog poo swinging above your head. You can’t escape it, just hope you can get it over with and head for the shower sooner rather than later. (thumbsup)
ernie lynch – Whoever coined the slogan, it hit the nail squarely on the head.
I’d have to agree with that.
It’s frightening what’s going on at the moment. The sheer contempt for democracy and indifference to the fate of entire countries – like Ireland – that have done nothing wrong except buy into the European project couldn’t be more apparent. (thumbsup)
ASonOfDan says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:49
Tight thong ? ;-)
Hail Hail
bigdanistheman says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:46
You’ re more than welcome, I was brought up by “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything atol”
Kittoch says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:51
Very good !!!!
Hail Hail
Raymac
You just need independence, then every political party, of any persuasion can stand in free and fair elections…por cierto.
Aldersyde avenue
Yes lets keep religions, those beacons of democracy, out of politics, por cierto.
watch this vid
big chap is called Du-Ri Cha !
not Cha Du-Ri !
CampaignForLazyJournalismDisarmamentCSC
:)
fritzsong – Yes, you’re probably right. After reading your disinterested and impartial perspective on the 1980s I now know that the savage non-stop beatings of the Birmingham 6, the extraction of confessions from the Guildford 4 at gunpoint, the destruction of John Stalker’s career, the deployment of MI5 informers to monitor miners’ leaders were all aberrations.
They pretty much were though.
Unless you think that sort of thing was routine? (thumbsup)
Philvis,
Have you been invited to Thatcher’s funeral? Apprently the whole event is being sponsored by Goldman Sachs. Should be a decent beano.
DomPom and trebles all round!!!
http://www.celticfc.net/player.php?id=16
woops
Big Swee walks on with Neil Lennon says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:43
Bada bing was telling me yesterday that the motorised satellites will have it if you have a pub near you with one of them.
If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all?
You’ve just placed my grammar on a date with Davie Weir!
Shocker.
Kittoch
if bigdanistheman read out that ultra cack and pro hun poem for his dead mother in law are you saying you wouldn´t be in fits of uncontrollable hysterical laughter ? Laughing at him and not with him I should add. It is so bad it might even wake up the old mother in law. What did the poor biddy do to deserve such a god awful send off ?
Does she deserver better ?
Hail Hail
jungle1967 – It doesn’t get much funnier than wishing an old lady dead. (thumbsup)
Does she deserver better ? = Does she deserve better ?
Awe Naw
I have buried a couple of mother-in-laws unfortunately
I’ll never learn
ernie lynch @ 13 33 —
Bosses Europe ?
Absolutely —–
Read the detail of last weeks ” historic agreement ” and you learn that Euroland has said -Goodbye Keynes / Goodbye Expansionary Fiscal Policy and Hello to tiny structural deficits and balanced budgets..
It will be interesting to see if they mean it . It will be interesting to see how the people of Euroland will react when they learn what it means.
South of Tunis
“It will be interesting to see if they mean it . It will be interesting to see how the people of Euroland will react when they learn what it means.” Wat do you think it means South? por cierto.
Awe_Naw
LOL!!
Dermott Gallagher on Talksport Sat night
says Tim Cahill was booked for playing the ball
without having his footy boot on !
soemthin to do with equipment regs, blah blah
any variations on this ?
example
Kyle Lafferty for not wearing a brown paper bag over his head
Alan McGregor for lack of a proper chastity belt etc
Calum Murray lacking specs – self-booking !
BlantyreKev – Hail Hail to the Kano Foundation says:
12 December, 2011 at 13:56
If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all?
You’ve just placed my grammar on a date with Davie Weir!
Shocker.
******************
Sorry! She could always stand him up.
BootsCornerCSC.