Summary

  • The Justice Committee takes evidence on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill.

  • MSPs ask ministers topical questions

  • Delivering for Scotland’s British Sign Language (BSL) Communities: Launch of the BSL National Plan statement

  • MSPs debate unconventional oil and gas

  1. Coming up this afternoon...published at 13:58 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    MSPs will raise issues around allegations of institutional racism in Police Scotland and record number of young people with suicidal thoughts phoning Childline.

    The government will then deliver a ministerial statement on the BSL National Plan.

    Police/BSL/Fracking/HelicopterImage source, BBC/Getty Images

    MSPs will then debate unconventional oil and gas, following the government's announcement of an "effective ban" on fracking.

    Finally Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald will lead a member’s debate entitled ‘Workforce Concerns Regarding Helicopter Safety in the North Sea’.

  2. Join us for the debate on fracking at 2.50pm.................published at 13:54 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

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  3. The committee moves into private sessionpublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Tom Halpin from Sacro says in terms of the cases that have come to his attention then the pre-existing legislation would have led to the same outcome.

    Mr Kelly ask Mr Boyle about legal certainty and the inconsistencies he raised arising from the Act.

    Danny Boyle from the Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland cites cases he says highlighting inconsistencies in the interpretation of the term sectarianism.

    This, he says, makes the Act incompatible with the Human Rights Act.

    That concludes the evidence session of the Justice Committee.

  4. Call for Disability Liaison Officers at every clubpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Mr Kelly asks Mr Riach if he would like to see the creation of local forums where clubs, fans and the police get together to talk about issues.

    Sandy Riach from the Scottish Disabled Supporters' Association says Disability Liaison Officers are not in place in every club and if they were it would help.

  5. Labour MSP says only 17 prosecutions in relation to Section 6 of the Actpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    james kellyImage source, bbc

    Labour MSP James Kelly says Mr Macfarlane says there was a high instance of reporting of online abuse to Stonewall Scotland.

    However, he says there have only been 17 prosecutions in relation to Section 6 of the Act.

    Mr Kelly, who is the member behind the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Behaviour (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill, says the vast majority of cases are not going through the Act but using the Communications Act 2003.

    Colin Macfarlane from Stonewall Scotland says he can't make a comparison as the figures are not there.

    Mr Macfarlane again says it is about the message that is sent and he says the Bracadale review is the opportunity to look at everything in the round.

  6. Sacro says there is 'no doubt' the Act has had an impactpublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    police horse at old firm matchImage source, bbc

    Mr Boyle says celebrating a British, Scottish or Irish identity does not constitute sectarianism according to BEMIS.

    Sacro's Tom Halpin says there is no doubt the football act has had an impact.

  7. The term sectarianism has 'become like chewing gum' says BEMISpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    police at old firm matchImage source, bbc

    Mr Kerr asks if the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Behaviour Act has impacted on sectarianism

    Danny Boyle says sectarianism has "become like chewing gum" due to overuse and is becoming valueless as a term.

    Mr Boyle says there is a fallacy that sectarianism is the responsibility of two clubs.

    He says only 12% of charges under the football act have related to Old Firm games.

  8. 'This is a Scottish societal issue'published at 11:41 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks if sectarianism is a significant problem throughout Scottish football or is it limited to two main clubs.

    Tom Halpin from Safeguarding Communities - Reducing Offending says the referrals are not limited to the two clubs Mr Kerr is indicating.

    They both seem to be dancing around naming Rangers and Celtic, but I think its safe to assume that is who they are referring to.

    Mr Halpin says sectarianism is not restricted to the two clubs.

    He says: "This is a Scottish societal issue."

  9. Postpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

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  10. An immediate repeal before Bracadale's review does not make sense says Stonewall Scotlandpublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Colin Macfarlane from Stonewall Scotland says to remove the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Behaviour Act and have nothing in its place would be wrong.

    Mr Macfarlane says an immediate repeal before Bracadale would be a folly and does not make sense.

  11. BEMIS says Act has no credibilitypublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    danny boyleImage source, bbc

    Danny Boyle from the Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland says his organisation is not averse to reviewing hate crime legislation, as Lord Bracadale is doing.

    Mr Boyle says Sections 1-5 of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Behaviour Act do not primarily deal with hate crimes.

    He says there is no gap in the law with hate crime aggravations in terms of Section 6.

    Mr Boyle says the Act can be repealed and any positive learning from the 17 charges using Section 6 can be taken forward.

    He says the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Behaviour Act has no credibility.

    SNP MSP Ben Macpherson says reform rather than repeal would be more constructive.

  12. SDSA says disabled groups feel more protected because the Act is therepublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Sandy Riach from the Scottish Disabled Supporters' Association says disabled groups feel more protected because the Act is there.

    Mr Riach says the SDSA has a bus with "disabled supporters" written on it and they still receive abuse.

  13. Threatening communications element of Act important says Stonewall Scotlandpublished at 11:27 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    colin macfarlaneImage source, bbc

    Colin Macfarlane from Stonewall Scotland says LGBT people experience elements of hate online individually.

    Mr Macfarlane says Section 6 covering the threatening communications element of the Act is important.

    He says when people understand there is something there to protect them from online abuse, if it goes, again it sends the wrong message.

  14. Postpublished at 11:27 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

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  15. Postpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

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  16. Postpublished at 11:25 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

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  17. BEMIS says the Act should be repealed immediatelypublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    committeeImage source, bbc

    All the witnesses say that it would be sensible to wait for Lord Bracadale's review into hate crime to report before changing or repealing the Act, apart from Danny Boyle.

    Mr Boyle says the Act should be repealed immediately.

  18. A lot of people who go to football matches are scared says witnesspublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    sandy riachImage source, bbc

    Sandy Riach from the Scottish Disabled Supporters' Association says a lot of people who go to football matches are scared, whether it be noise, chanting or foul language.

    Mr Riach says there needs to be education in that respect and things in place to make people feel safe at the game.

    There also needs to be things in place to respond to incidents, he says.

  19. 'Education has a very important role to play'published at 11:19 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Danny Boyle from BEMIS says education has a very important role to play in tackling hate crime.

    Mr Boyle says the Curriculum for Excellence is key and its role will be reviewed.

    He says there is a tendancy to talk about football fans almost entirely in the negative.

    Mr Boyle says there is less hate crime in football than there is elsewhere.

    He highlights the charity work and progressive efforts around football clubs and fans.

  20. Postpublished at 11:15 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

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