The sectarian crime stats they forgot to destroy

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I’ve just caught Joe O’Rourke’s article on the Association site about the long-awaited released of statistics on sectarian crime in Scotland.  Joe suggests that the data from 2003 – 2010 was has been destroyed by the Crown Office.  I also hear that the Scottish Government will release entirely irrelevant ‘information’ today, specifically, where offences took place, not which groups were responsible or which groups were targeted by the offenders.

It takes a lot of effort to make sure you destroy data these days, you need to ensure not only that prosecutors permanently delete backups (which I really doubt they do) but also that the police similarly comply.

Fortunately all is not lost.  While it’s just about believable that regional police forces across Scotland and the Crown Office have acted in symmetry on this issue, I could have helped the First Minister, Alex Salmond’s, search for clarity by pointing him in the direction of British Transport Police (BTP).  The Transport Police are a separate force who operate across Britain and are run by the Home Office in London.  They are also a lot less proficient at destroying data.

They previously gave me detailed statistics on all incidents they record in connection with Scottish football for season 2007-08.  One of the most pleasing aspects of the information is the complete eradication of sectarian offences from all but one Scottish club, so the First Minister will be delighted to learn he has a smaller problem on his hands than he perhaps knew.  According to BTP, 11 arrests were made for sectarian offences in total, 10 Rangers fans and one Northern Ireland fan.

You can see the detail figures for all recorded incidents here (the majority of which are for non-sectarian issues).  From a total of 99 incidents (not all of which resulted in arrest), there were six involving Celtic fans, six for Dundee United, seven for Motherwell, four for Hibernian and five each for Aberdeen and Hearts.  Rangers fans were involved in a total of 48 incidents.

The BPT figures also make it clear that most incidents occur when fans travel to away venues.  The Force also confirmed that incidents surrounding the 2008 Uefa Cup final in Manchester were not included in these statistics.

To further aid Mr Salmond in his search for clarity on this issue, he can contact British Transport Police with a Freedom of Information request here, where they will be able to provide him (or you) with up to date stats.

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  1. quick question,

     

     

    say yer dug licks yer whisky, and then ye drink it… will u get worms?… or does it depend on the whisky

  2. I am Neil Lennon on a celticrollercoaster on

    well done HT you held on in there!!! Great guess lostinbonnybridge!! Congrats to all for taking part.

     

     

    Final scores:

     

     

    hamiltontim 47

     

    Neil Lennon Is A Celtic Soul Brother 45

     

    DougC 39

     

    Lennybhoy…Supporting Neil Lennon and CFC until I die 35

     

    lostinbonnybridge 33

     

    JoboBalde 29

     

    setting free the bears 29

     

    Paddy Turner 27

     

    Palacio 67 24

     

    ulysses mcghee 0

  3. Damn, I thought roughy came in 89. Was on a job in the IBM full of huns around the judas time, just all bad memories apart from the Cup Final.

     

     

    Away for another Corona

     

     

    HH

  4. I am Neil Lennon on a celticrollercoaster on

    setting free the bears says:

     

    18 November, 2011 at 22:35

     

     

    According to The Celtic wiki, we were!

     

     

    CRC

  5. Neil Lennon Is A Celtic Soul Brother on

    Congrats Hamiltontim-just too quick for me!

     

     

    CRC-Great quiz as always-cheer on the Bhoys tomorrow but watch those Rebel Songs!

     

     

    lostin..-inspired guess!

  6. CRC

     

     

    Well done big fella thanks again for the time and effort.

     

     

    I’ll look out for you the morra at ICT :)

  7. Evening all.

     

     

    Wonder who Craig Whyte was talking to on his mobile at 14:15 p.m. this afternoon in Blythswood Square?

  8. The foolproof way to get rid of worms, tried and tested according to the GMC.

     

     

    Stick a bit of chocolate up your jacksie ever morning for a week, and the next day don’t stick a bit of chocolate uo there, they will come out looking for theur chocolate, hit them over the head with a hammer.

     

     

    Bed time…..

  9. Well done HT & once again CRC, thanks for the effort made……..

     

     

    Now if only I hadf got Q.1 in on time, I would havew been…………………………..eehhh, higher up.

     

     

    always next week………………………

     

     

    Paddy T

  10. brucecassavetes says:

     

    18 November, 2011 at 22:44

     

    Evening all.

     

     

    Wonder who Craig Whyte was talking to on his mobile at 14:15 p.m. this afternoon in Blythswood Square?

     

     

    ————————————–

     

     

    Has he joined the anti capitalists who moved from Kelvingrove park?

  11. Motherwell Supporters Trust now declaring themselves against new sectarian bill with the declaration, ‘a crime is a crime, so why do we need a new law?’

     

     

    A shower of huns without the bus fare, but their support is appreciated… HH

  12. Neil Lennon Is A Celtic Soul Brother on

    Lennybhoy…Supporting Neil Lennon and CFC until I die says:

     

    18 November, 2011 at 22:42

     

     

    League-Dundee (a)-lost 1-0,Murderwell(h)-won3-1,Hibs(a)-lost 3-1,St.Mirren(h)-won 7-1,Dundee Utd(h)-won-1-0.

     

     

    Also played in Europe and League Cup.

  13. sftb,

     

     

    shots? ah’ve got tae give the dug shots??? wots the world comin to… I’ll need to dig out that tequilla I don’t like

     

     

    Dr Ulysses… ah like the way ye think… I’ll go for that

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