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. CRC scrolled through the quiz – would’ve been lucky to finish mid-table tonight.

     

     

    The 21st was interesting – lots of; legs, thighs, mini-skirts and cleevage!

     

     

    However, the general consensus of opinion was that the Tic would win (later today) apart from a small clique in the corner.

     

     

    Our tribulations don’t go un-noticed – met a charming young lady from Connitecut who is spreading the gospel.

     

     

    Will catch the quiz next Friday!

     

     

    H!H!

  2. petec says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 01:26

     

     

    Posted that the other night mate, wonder what the reacy=tion would be if we sung that.

     

     

    Confusethehunscsc

  3. petec says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 01:26

     

     

    Posted that the other night mate, wonder what the reaction would be if we sung that.

     

     

    Confusethehunscsc

  4. KevJungle – Put the GREEN BRIGADE into a new JUNGLE

     

     

    You are up early/late

     

     

    I agree m8, The old Jungle was where you gradually got to as you grew up.

     

     

    Dad accompanying to Main stand first and then going to the games with Sisters Fiancee at the Celtic End. Wow when you were going to the games by yourself. There was no other place to be than right in the Middle of the Jungle, ESPECIALLY against them.

     

     

    Health and Safety wise, it was a deathtrap but it is like the Jews Flocking back to Israel.

  5. Palacio67

     

     

    thanks for postin the Big Country song Like A Shadow

     

     

    probably my favourite band – saw them play on a good few occasions – very special times

     

     

    just got back tonight from a rugby match – excellent fun – don’t have a clue about the rules, tactics etc but when a game of 80mins starring huge monsters of 6ft6 etc between Edinb and Paris finishes at 48-47 for the home team, i can safely assume, i suppose that that was one heck of a wee kick-around

     

     

    have decided to take in the St J v Celtic u19 match later today – 1pm kick-off at Stirl Uni – will of course clash with the big team at ICT, but have been lovin seein the u19s develop – playin some fine stuff – 7 wins in a row so far

     

     

    have coachin course Level 3 on Sunday and again next Sunday – shame ah’ll miss the u19 match at Barrowfield next week v a good Hearts side – ah well have been enjoyin the coachin so far, so hopefully more of the same

     

     

    hope Neily bhoy has the lads up for this v ICT – last time i welcomed them to the ground up there and just sensed there was somethin missin – got asked by the ICT stewards to lower my voice near the end of that infamous 3-2 defeat – the team just couldn’t go that final few yards – later today, i hope they do !!

     

     

    come on you bhoys in green

     

     

    and God Bless all the fans, as BSR says

     

     

    :)

     

     

    bedtime

  6. petec says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 01:40

     

     

    Health and Safety wise, it was a deathtrap but it is like the Jews Flocking back to Israel.

     

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

     

    I apologise for delay M8!

     

     

    Totally disagree re: The Jungle.

     

     

    Please explain.

  7. “Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order . Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government.”

  8. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Regarding the publication of crime figures, diplomacy will not work.

     

     

    Our club needs to be far more bullish and direct in its response to the reporting of these types of publication.

     

     

     

    What Celtic’s statement said

     

     

     

    “Celtic Football Club welcomes the Crime and Justice report issued today. However, for clarity it is important to explain these figures and place these in context.”

     

     

    What the Statement SHOULD have said

     

     

    “While Celtic Football Club welcomes the Crime and Justice report issued today the club does not welcome the context or inference of the report which, in our opinion, deliberate tries to implicate our club. For clarity it is important to explain these figures and place these in context.”

     

     

     

    What Celtic’s statement said

     

     

    “”It is noted that Celtic Park is mentioned as being the location for 47 charges. Fourteen of these offences relate to Celtic supporters, with 33 relating to supporters of visiting teams. (figs. provided by the Information Sharing Protocol with Strathclyde Police).

     

     

    ”To again put this in context, during that period approximately one million Celtic supporters visited the stadium, and approximately 35,000 supporters of away teams have attended Celtic Park.”

     

     

    What should have been added to the statement.

     

     

    “Statistically this means away supporters are 68 TIMES MORE LIKELY to be charged with a crime than home supporters. We would like to take this opportunity to

     

    a) acknowledge and applaud the 99.9986% of Celtic supporters who are law abiding citizens and

     

    b) remind the wider community that the miniscule minority who committed these crimes have been banned for life

     

     

    Hail Hail

  9. KevJungle – Put the GREEN BRIGADE into a new JUNGLE says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 01:51

     

     

    ———————————————————–

     

     

    petec says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 01:40

     

     

    KevJungle – Put the GREEN BRIGADE into a new JUNGLE

     

     

    You are up early/late

     

     

    I agree m8, The old Jungle was where you gradually got to as you grew up.

     

     

    Dad accompanying to Main stand first and then going to the games with Sisters Fiancee at the Celtic End. Wow when you were going to the games by yourself. There was no other place to be than right in the Middle of the Jungle, ESPECIALLY against them.

     

     

    Health and Safety wise, it was a deathtrap but it is like the Jews Flocking back to Israel.

     

     

    —————————————–

     

     

    Hopefully you read things correctly.

     

     

    The Centre of the Jungle was very dangerous when we look back over events. I Thank the Almighty God that the barriers in the Jungle withstood all the concentrated sways.

     

     

    Hail Hail m8

  10. petec says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 02:00

     

    =================

     

    Re the old Jungle, you would always lose your friends after a goal in a big game, lost a shoe against Cheats vienna and had to hop to the central station.

     

    Sometimes you don’t know what you miss till its gone.

     

     

    HH

  11. petec says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 02:00

     

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

     

    I understand what your saying about the barriers etc but, wasn’t the Kop at Anfield not renowned for the sways and the brilliant atmosphere created within ?

     

     

    Tell you what….

     

     

    Was Liverpool FC’s greatest successes not before the Kop was no more ?

     

     

    just like Celtic FC’s greatest successes where before the Jungle was no more ?

     

     

    Hail! Hail!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Hail! Hail!

  12. zimmerman says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 01:52

     

     

    It is Amazing to see this INCREDIBLE comment published on here.

     

     

    Respect for Dropping this Monster.

     

     

    To go further and it expands my belief system, apologies to those who are offended.

     

     

    All the Major Religions are awaiting their Master/Saviour/Whatever……

     

     

    There is only 1 Religion that warns that this Coming World Leader is indeed the Counterfeit.

     

     

    The Highest Masonic people are the Most Studious of the Bible.

     

     

    Perfecting the Man is just the LIE of the Serpent.

     

     

    Apple has all the Knowledge in ones hand…..

     

     

    Look at the symbol of Apple.

     

     

    Gnostic,Gnostic like, it is ok for all to have their beliefs but when these ( G ) people……. are Guiding peoples belief since the Beginning of Mankind.

     

     

    Fortunes,

     

     

    Thank You for the link to Merkels code. I watched a German Youtube and it is even more explicit.

  13. petec says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 02:17

     

    ===================

     

    Total respect in friend in Celtic, but that post is way above my head,

     

    must be the Coronas clouding things

     

     

    HH

  14. KevJungle – Put the GREEN BRIGADE into a new JUNGLE says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 02:10

     

     

     

    I understand what your saying about the barriers etc but, wasn’t the Kop at Anfield not renowned for the sways and the brilliant atmosphere created within ?

     

     

    Tell you what….

     

     

    Was Liverpool FC’s greatest successes not before the Kop was no more ?

     

     

    just like Celtic FC’s greatest successes where before the Jungle was no more ?

     

     

    Hail! Hail!

     

     

    It is a strange thing really, there is no doubt all the other nations have utilised the finer weather but as the pitches become more uniform (except in SCOTLAND) the skill level should get up to our Spanish/Dutch counterparts.

     

     

    The SFA are the Custodians of Scottish Footballs demise from the Very Pinnacle of World Club football to where we are today.

     

     

    Nothing else has to be said.

  15. petec says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 02:59

     

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

     

    Nah……

     

     

    Maybe you miss the point that, in the days of the Jungle and the Kop….

     

    fans were allowed to watch a day at the football without, having to spend a days wages to do so!

     

     

    Now, in the post-Taylor report era…..astronomical price’s are paid for players in terms of transfer fee and wages well, I have to offer a personal opinion and say that, we as punters are being fleeced by the fat-cats who have, presided over a hun 3/4 iar and that, for me is, the beginnning of the end of the capitalist/Thatcher type era that has ran it’s course! IMO!

     

     

    Hail! Hail!

  16. Imatim and so is Neil Lennon on

    2010 Never Again

     

     

    http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/training_moved_to_barrowfield_as_lennoxtown_suspected_of_playing_a_part_in_rising_injury_toll_1_1974813?

     

     

    Training moved to Barrowfield as Lennoxtown suspected of playing a part in rising injury toll

     

     

    By ALAN PATTULLO

     

    Published on Saturday 19 November 2011 10:30

     

     

    INVESTIGATIONS seem to be theme of the week at Celtic after Neil Lennon ordered one to be carried out on the pitches the club’s training centre at Lennoxtown.

     

     

    The manager is seeking to have every angle covered as he attempts to find out why his players appear to be so susceptible to soft tissue injuries. Norwegian centre-half Thomas Rogne is the latest to have succumbed, having tweaked a hamstring in training on Thursday. It has left Celtic with only one fully fit first team central defender in Daniel Majstorovic for today’s crucial Scottish Premier League fixture at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Glenn Loovens is also sidelined with a hamstring complaint, as is Charlie Mulgrew. Lennon has turned the spotlight on the club’s £8 million training complex, which was opened in 2007. The manager even chose to switch training to the club’s old, and often much-derided, training park at Barrowfield yesterday as he sought to minimise the chance of sustaining more injuries before today’s clash.

     

     

    “I am not being funny, we are seriously looking at the pitches up there [at Lennoxtown] as to whether they play a factor in what’s happening,” said Lennon yesterday, as he spoke with reporters at Celtic Park. “All of a sudden we are picking up these soft tissue injuries. We have to seriously look at that but we can’t train anywhere else [long term]. We had one pitch to train on yesterday and it was a pretty intense session,” he added. “Thomas just felt his hamstring towards the end of the session. It might have something to do with the fact the pitch is quite slippy at the minute and the acceleration and deceleration puts a strain on the muscles. It’s something we are looking at.”

     

     

    Those fit enough to attend yesterday’s training session were asked to turn up at Barrowfield. Celtic have trained here since before even Jock Stein’s time and the pitches were in use by the club up until the move to Lennoxtown. On the subject of Barrowfield, Lennon said: “We are going there today. The surface is a lot drier and a wee bit firmer. It might be the case that we might have to train there for a little while, until we get the pitches sorted out up at Lennoxtown. But listen, this is only one theory we are looking at.”

     

     

    Lennon explained why Boudewijn ‘Bolo’ Zenden was let go after his trial period at the club, and following reports that the manager had been over-ruled by the board. Lennon admitted that he had wanted to add the 35 year old former Barcelona, Chelsea and Liverpool winger to his squad but appeared to suggest he was concerned about making another costly mistake.

     

     

    Contract talks broke down last week and the player returned home to the Netherlands. Although Zenden claimed he was not asking for an “ridiculous” amount Lennon admitted both himself and chief executive Peter Lawwell were conscious of avoiding another Freddie Ljungberg situation. The Swede joined Celtic last December on a short-term contract but started only two matches between then and the end of the season. Lennon appears content to wait for the opening of the transfer window in January before assessing his signing options.

     

     

    “Listen, I liked him [Zenden] and said we’d hoped to give him a contract,” revealed Lennon. “That’s the way I left [it]. But I spoke to Peter [Lawwell] and we couldn’t agree terms and that was the end of it.

     

     

    “And we are mindful of the fact we have January coming up. We didn’t want another Ljungberg situation where we offer a lot of money. Zenden’s playing record was very good but we are mindful of the fact that Freddie didn’t play as much as we’d have liked after coming in around this time last year. So that was at the back of our minds as well.

     

     

    “But in terms of the board making the decision, that’s not true at all,” he added.

     

     

    Celtic have, however, agreed a short-term contract with left back Andre Blackman. The 20 year-old is already on his sixth club, including trainee spells with both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Trials at both Leicester City and Oldham Athletic recently proved unsuccessful but the full-back has impressed Lennon.

     

     

    “We’ve offered him a contract until the end of the season with an option for the following season,” said Lennon. “He’s impressed us, especially considering the kid’s been out of football for a year. He’s only 20 and has played a couple of matches and impressed us. We’ll have a good look at him over the next few months.”

     

     

    Meanwhile, Inverness may be bottom of the league but Jonny Hayes claims they are “massively confident”.

     

     

    Terry Butcher’s side have struggled for most of the season but the Dubliner, 24, is buoyed by the convincing 6-3 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park a fortnight ago.

     

     

    The former Leicester winger is also mindful of the fact that Caley scuppered Celtic’s title hopes last season and played down the prospect of Celtic looking for revenge.

     

     

    “We are not worried about them at all to be honest,” he said. “We look forward to the game, we are massively confident.

     

     

    “We have had a couple of good performances recently and we played really well and won against them last season. The way we have been playing lately has been good enough to beat anybody.

     

     

    “There is something wrong if you don’t want to play against the best players and the best teams in the league, and Celtic are one of those teams.

     

     

    “But I think we need to focus on ourselves and keep up the high standards that we have set.

     

     

    “Maurice Malpas (assistant) and Terry have our feet on the ground, we know hard work is the key and that’s what we look to do, out-work Celtic.”

  17. CQN Saturday Naps Competition

     

     

    Lads, for those who are in the CQN Saturday Naps competition, please go back and post your selection on the previous article :

     

    (“Neil Lennon speaks out for the heart of Celtic”)

     

     

    Alternatively, if you cannot access the previous article for any reason, then you can send me an email message with your selection to : fleagle1888 at yahoo.co.uk

     

     

    All the best, fleagle1888

  18. i’m glad Neil confirmed the Zenden decision was down to him. Thats as it should be.

     

     

    for me………unless you are Lubo, or Luboesque, anyone over 30 is a no no

     

     

    as the black eyed peas say………” i gotta feeling”………..i’m thinking the fightback starts at Inverness……..

     

     

     

    wooo hooooo…….

     

     

    todays gonna be a big day……a big day ….woo hooo

  19. .

     

     

    G’Day Fae a Absoluter Monsoon-like Freezing 16C Melbourne..It was 34C this Time Yesterday..

     

     

    Our Record up @ Inversneckie Makes Dire reading..Never Won by more than One Goal l Believe..

     

     

     

     

    Thus 1-2 for Me..Lead 0-2 @ Half-Time to make it Easier on the Nerves..

     

     

    Sammi to Start and Assist again..

     

     

    Summa

  20. Margaret McGill on

    The Daily retard

     

    Read all about it

     

    Read all about it

     

    get yer fishal copy here

     

    Blatter a retard Bigot!

     

    Blatter a retard Bigot!

     

    Blatter corrupt to the core!

     

    The Daily retard

     

    Read all about it

     

    Read all about it

     

    get yer fishal copy here

     

    Scotland a retard bigot!

     

    Scotland a retard bigot!

     

    Scotland corrupt to the core!

  21. Morning all from the Turquoise Coast of Turkiye, some bassa has tried to hack into my Tic TV account !

  22. Margaret McGill says:

     

    19 November, 2011 at 07:00

     

     

    Not another Trojan!

     

     

    Drove past it once on the way to Bulgarski, not sure if that countsd though ?