Paul McBride: The legal view on new football hooliganism bill

This is a very simple bill indeed. It creates two distinct offences - one that relates to religious sectarian hatred expressed in a public place, and one that deals with hate crime on the internet of an offensive or sectarian nature.

The government is correct in bringing it in as quickly as possible, there's no reason for delay.

As legislation goes, it's simple as pie - you don't even need to be legally qualified to understand it.

It gives police the wherewithal, and the courts the powers, to deal with the minority of people who tarnish the image of Scotland.

It deals with people who commit offences in this country or, more importantly, abroad. That's something that has not really been picked up on, but it is very important. It makes it an offence that is extraditable to commit these offences outside this country. If you go abroad, effectively representing Scotland, whether you are following a football team or whatever, and you become involved in sectarian hatred or violence, you will be brought back before a Scottish court.

I think this bill sends out a powerful, symbolic message from the Scottish Government. It is the Scottish Government's first bill in Holyrood in this parliament, and it says very clearly that this behaviour will not be tolerated in any way whatsoever. That will hopefully mean the escalation from violence to sending parcel bombs, etc, will be nipped in the bud much earlier.

It will also end the illusion of anonymity that people feel they have when they are online.

We must deal with sectarianism in the same way as we dealt with racism, homophobia, sexism and drink-driving.

All of these things were acceptable 20 years ago; now they are completely and utterly unacceptable - the same thing must happen with sectarianism, and this legislation is a start.

It will not be the final answer or the final solution, but it is the beginning of the end. I think this is the most important piece of legislation to be passed in Scotland in the past 30 years, because it deals with a problem that we absolutely have to solve.

• Paul McBride is a prominent QC , who was sent explosives through the post after representing Celtic manager Neil Lennon.