Offensive Behaviour Act evaluation published

Since June 2013, researchers at the University of Stirling and ScotCen Social Research have been carrying out an extensive evaluation of the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications Act 2012, hearing evidence from a wide range of stakeholders including fans, match commanders, police, prosecutors and football club representatives.

The evaluation found evidence from a range of sources that offensive behaviour at football matches has decreased since the legislation was introduced, and strong support from police and prosecutors who said the laws had brought a new “simplicity and clarity” to dealing with incidents.

A YouGov poll also published today reveals that 83 per cent of Scots support legislation to tackle offensive behaviour at football and 80 per cent of those polled directly support the act.

In a survey of football fans as part of the evaluation of the act by ScotCen research, 90 per cent of fans found songs which glorify or celebrate the loss of life or serious injury offensive, 82 per cent found songs in support of terrorist organisations offensive, 85 per cent found songs, chants and shouting about people’s religious background or beliefs offensive.