Minister defends speedy introduction of laws against hate crime

Published on Tuesday 21 June 2011 14:06

Community safety minister Roseanna Cunningham has defended the speed with which new laws targeting hate crime at football matches are moving through Holyrood.

The draft Bill would create two offences relating to behaviour deemed to "incite religious, racial or other forms of hatred" in and around football grounds and on the internet.

Offenders could be jailed for up to five years under the proposals.

The Bill is being fast-tracked through parliament so the law is in place in time for the new football season on July 23.

MSPs at the Scottish Parliament`s Justice Committee raised concerns that the legislation is being rushed through.

Ms Cunningham said: "I want to remind everybody what we saw during the last football season, scenes which none of us ever wish to see repeated, scenes which were broadcast throughout the world and which shamed Scotland.

"Football is our national game, millions of people are passionate about it but we can`t tolerate the complete corruption of that passion into hate, whether it is mass sectarian chanting or bullets and bombs in the post.

"It must stop.

"This Bill is intended to tackle the very recent problems we have all witnessed head on.

"We can`t any longer tolerate seeing and hearing hatred expressed on the terraces when we know it has these consequences.

"The government is committed to putting this new legislation in place in time for the new football season. It is essential to make clear that the scenes of last season must never be repeated."

If passed by MSPs, the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill would mean those convicted could spend as long as five years in prison and be banned from football grounds.

Convener Christine Grahame said the Justice Committee has been "put in a very difficult position" in wishing to examine the Bill on behalf of the public in the timescale proposed.

However, Ms Cunningham added: "I acknowledge a much greater amount of time is always going to be ideal and I don`t rule out the possibility in a few years' time of revisiting the situation with legislation.

"We have two new offences, only two, and to do those in the short timescale is not only feasible, it is desirable."

The Bill comes in the wake of several high-profile football-related incidents.

Recent problems have seen two men appear in court after suspected parcel bombs were sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and two other high-profile supporters of the club in March.