Police Scotland: Football act repeal would not create ‘insurmountable’ problems 

If controversial football legislation is repealed, the issues it throws up will not be “insurmountable” Police Scotland has said.

However, it added that those singing offensive songs relating to the Troubles would likely go unpunished.

Holyrood’s Justice Committee is currently consulting on legislation which would repeal the laws.

Opposition parties have lent their backing to Labour’s James Kelly to scrap the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act 2012.

The Scottish government argues that the legislation allows police and prosecutors to actually deal with bad behaviour in and around grounds.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins told the committee :“In relation to the proposed repeal of the act, PoliceScotland recognises that repeal presents challenges but it is not believed any of these challenges are insurmountable from a policing perspective.

“For criminal behaviour which is overtly prejudiced in terms of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity, alternative provisions exist and, in the event of repeal, Police Scotland would revert to utilising existing legislation to ensure any perpetrator within a football environment is dealt with in a robust manner.”

He added: “For example, some of the offensive songs which make reference to proscribed organisations and which are currently reported to Police Scotland under section 1 of the act were not tested under the legislation which predates the act.”