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ScOTLAND’s top prosecutor has warned that any Old Firm fans involved in domestic violence incidents linked to this weekend’s Celtic and Rangers clash will be “robustly prosecuted”.

The stark warning from Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland came as Strathclyde Police Chief Superintendent Bob Hamilton promised a zero-tolerance approach to deal with “unacceptable” domestic abuse in the run-up to or aftermath of the lunchtime kick-off of tomorrow’s Scottish Premier League tie at Ibrox.

Mr Mulholland issued a strongly worded statement yesterday in which he spoke of the “disturbing” link between Old Firm matches and soaring incidents of domestic violence, which was revealed in figures earlier this year.

They showed complaints of domestic abuse almost double, with 97 per cent more cases recorded, during lunchtime kick-offs on Sunday Old Firm match days, and helped spark a Scottish Government summit to tackle violence fuelled during derbies between the two Glasgow clubs.

Chief Supt Hamilton warned that the force would be targeting fans previously convicted of domestic violence crimes ahead of tomorrow’s match, alongside an enhanced police presence in and around Ibrox stadium.

He said: “Analysis has shown that following Old Firm fixtures the number of domestic abuse incidents that officers deal with can be three times what would normally be expected over a weekend. This is clearly unacceptable.

“To combat this, we have carried out a week of proactive warnings to those individuals who commit domestic abuse offences during these periods.

“Additional officers will be on duty to deal with any demand that arises post match, but we would hope that people will heed the warnings that are given and that the number of victims decreases during this period.

“Our priority in the force is to keep people safe. This strategy will continue and proactivity will remain a strong focus for us.”

A statement issued by Mr Mulholland yesterday warned that “anyone arrested for a domestic abuse offence” would be hauled before Glasgow’s domestic-abuse court “where they will be robustly prosecuted”.

He said: “Figures from the start of this year showed a clear link between Old Firm football matches and a rise in the number of domestic-abuse cases reported to the procurator fiscal in Glasgow.

“Domestic abuse is never acceptable and I find it particularly disturbing to see a link with an Old Firm match, but this is the trend we are now seeing.

“Football-related disorder and violence, whether inside the stadium, in the streets and pubs afterwards, or at home, will not be tolerated.

“I urge football fans to enjoy the match wherever it is watched and behave responsibly. I earnestly hope that the post-match discussion will be exclusively about the football.”

The police and Crown Office warnings come after the launch of a joint action group, whose members include the Scottish Football Association, both Old Firm clubs and the Scottish Government, following violent clashes in and around Celtic Park earlier this year.

An SFA spokesman said: “We are committed members of the joint action group and fully support the work of the group.”

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “We’ve all seen the statistics from the police which show a worrying picture of increasing violence and domestic abuse in particular, around football and especially Old Firm matches. This kind of behaviour is sickening and must not be tolerated in any form.”

Christine Grahame, convener of Holyrood’s justice committee, said the sharp rises in domestic abuse on Old Firm match days was “horrendous” for victims of the violence.

She said: “When expectations are high and then dashed, with drink involved it’s horrendous when someone takes out it out on their partners.”

Both Celtic and Rangers declined to comment on the police and Crown Office warnings.

Glasgow list Tory MSP Ruth Davidson claimed that Old Firm fans had been “well warned” and said that she backed the “tough language” of the police and Crown Office.