Summary

  • Former SPA chief executive John Foley discusses the SPA audit with MSPs

  • MSPs quiz Nicola Sturgeon during first minister's questions

  • Tory MSP leads debate on electric shock collars

  • MSPs debate the repeal of Offensive Behaviour at Football Act

  1. Act has 'camouflaged but not stopped' sectarianismpublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    All 287 charges brought under Section 7 of the Act could have been prosecuted under existing legislation according to evidence from the Law Society of Scotland, Liam Kerr highlights.

    Has it worked, the Tory MSP asks.

    He points to evidence indicating fans are simply putting their hands in front of their mouths while singing sectarian songs to prevent CCTV from capturing it, or they have changed the words.

    Mr Kerr says the Act has not brought about behavioural change, nor has it tackled the underlying drivers of sectarianism.

    It has has "camouflaged but not stopped" sectarianism, he says.

  2. Tory MSP says Football Act is bad law and not fit for purposepublished at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Tory MSP Liam KerrImage source, bbc

    Tory MSP Liam Kerr says his party back's the general principles of Mr Kelly's repeal Bill.

    Mr Kerr says the Football Act is bad law and not fit for purpose.

    He says he has heard much concern about the message that will be sent if the Act is repealed.

    However the Tory MSP says hate crime is illegal and still will be after repeal.

  3. Negative consequences on vulnerable communitiespublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Annabelle Ewing with SNP colleagues

    There will be negative consequences as a result of repealing this act on vulnerable communities, the minister says.

    "I ask parliament to reflect very carefully on what they are doing."

  4. 'Simply going back to where we were before the Act was introduced is retrograde'published at 15:02 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    EwingImage source, bbc

    Ms Ewing says if any party wants to take the amendment route her door is open.

    The minister says equality groups have been clear they place great importance in the protection the Act gives them.

    She says if the Bill is passed the government will seek to ensure there is a continuity of protection for minority groups.

    The minister says the loss of Section 6 powers would be worrying.

    "Simply going back to where we were before the Act was introduced is retrograde and counterproductive."

  5. Scottish government has invested in tackling sectarianismpublished at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Fans and policeImage source, Getty Images

    The Scottish government has invested millions in tackling sectarianism, the minister says, including delivering the first ever national education resource.

    She argues the Act was not about replacing existing law but given better and sharper tools to police officers.

    There has been no successful challeng in courts that the Act breaches human rights she says.

    She disagrees with the view that trust between fans and police has deteriorated.

  6. Minister says action and interventions are required to tackle offensive behaviourpublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Community Safety and Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle EwingImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Community Safety and Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle Ewing

    Community Safety and Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle Ewing says a persistent minority of fans think they can act how they like without thought of the impact on others.

    Ms Ewing says action and interventions are required to tackle this.

    Labour MSP Johann Lamont asks: "Would you agree that many good football fans who want this Bill repealed aslo abhor that behaviour?"

    The minister agrees, but says nonetheless many families won't go to games now due to this behaviour.

  7. The time is right for publicity and education on what is and is not acceptablepublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Justice Committee convener Margaret Mitchell says the Section 6 offense splits opinions.

    She notes evidence indicating Section 6 was rarely used.

    SNP MSP James Dornan argues that despite it not being used often, it is still an important part of the statute book.

    Margaret Mitchell

    Ms Mitchell notes a review of human crime legislation by Lord Bracadale will be completed in summer, which will take into account the law as it stands then.

    The time is right for publicity and education on what is and is not acceptable, she says.

  8. Background: MSPs recommend repeal of Offensive Behaviour at Football Actpublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    MSPs on Holyrood's Justice Committee recommended the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

    A majority of members on the committee backed Labour MSP James Kelly's members bill, while stressing that they strongly condemn sectarian behaviour.

    SNP members do not want the legislation repealed, but are outnumbered by MSPs from opposition parties, all of whom are in favour of scrapping it.

    Police at IbroxImage source, Getty Images

    The Scottish government said repeal would "send entirely the wrong message" and would "put Scotland behind the rest of the UK in terms of protection from incitement to religious hatred".

    The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act came into force in 2012 after the SNPused its majority to push through the legislation.

    Opponents of the law, external say it is poorly written, unnecessary in light of existing legislation and unfairly targets football fans - a position now endorsed by Holyrood's justice committee.

    Read more.

  9. A majority of committee supports general principles of repeal Billpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Margaret MitchellImage source, bbc

    Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell says she is speaking on behalf of the Justice Committee.

    Ms Mitchell says a majority of the committee supports the general principles of the Bill.

    She says the report does contain some unanimous conclusions and recommendations.

    The Justice Committee convener says those who oppose the repeal say it would send the wrong message, but those for repeal say the Football Act was badly drafted.

  10. 'We need a unified approach'published at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Turning to the part of the Act on threatening communications, he says it has done little to help this.

    Mr Kelly agrees legislation in relation to online abuse is essential.

    SNP MSP Mairi Gougeon asks how the repeal of the Act will solve these problems.

    James Kelly says the legal threshold for Section 6 of the Act is too high which makes it difficult to use it to prosecute.

    James Kelly

    "We need a unified approach", Mr Kelly says, calling for cross-party efforts to tackle sectarianism.

    He suggests investing in education programmes and working with police, football clubs and football fans would be more effective that this "discredited legislation".

  11. Postpublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  12. Postpublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  13. Background: LGBT groups oppose Football Act repeal bidpublished at 14:42 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Football crowdImage source, PA

    LGBT groups say scrapping legislation that outlaws offensive behaviour at football matches would send a negative message to the community.

    A survey of children found more than a quarter had experienced offensive behaviour at football matches.

    Colin Macfarlane, from Stonewall Scotland, agreed there were "implementation issues" with the act, and said it was time for it to be reviewed - but said repeal would "send a very negative signal to LGBT people".

    A survey of children found more than a quarter had experienced offensive behaviour at football matches.

    Read more.

  14. SNP MSP raises concerns about no replacement for Football Actpublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    SNP MSP Joan McAlpineImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Joan McAlpine

    SNP MSP Joan McAlpine says the Equality Network, Stonewall Scotland and the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities say repealing the act without a viable alternative would send the wrong message on tackling sectarianism.

    Mr Kelly says he will deal with that later in his speech.

    He says there are a number of cases that show how unfair the Act is.

  15. Trust between fans and police deteriorating, says James Kellypublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Old Firm game
    Image caption,

    Fans at an Old Firm game

    When there was talk about tackling sectarianism, it was welcome, Mr Kelly says.

    However, looking back at the record in 2011, it became clear the SNP was not willing to work with other parties on the subject, he says.

    Mr Kelly suggests this is what led all opposition MSPs to oppose the initial bill.

    The Act has led to trust between football fans and police deteriorating, Mr Kelly argues.

    Pointing to evidence from the Scottish Human Rights Committee and academics, he notes many questioned how the act would infringe on rights and freedom of speech.

  16. Postpublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  17. Background: Opposition parties unite over repeal of Actpublished at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Football supporters including the Fans Against Criminalisation group have staged rallies against the ActImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Football supporters including the Fans Against Criminalisation group have staged rallies against the Act

    In November 2016, MSPs voted to urge the Scottish government to repeal its Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

    Opposition parties all back scrapping the act, and united to hand the government a symbolic defeat.

    SNP MSPs defended the legislation, saying opponents have not put forward any viable alternatives.

    The motion, which described the Act as "unworkable and badly drafted", was passed by 64 votes to 63. An SNP amendment was rejected by the same margin.

  18. 'The Football Act has completely failed to tackle sectarianism'published at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Labour MSP James Kelly

    "The Football Act has completely failed to tackle sectarianism", Labour MSP James Kelly begins.

    Describing it as illiberal, he says it unfairly targets football fans.

    He calls for the Scottish government to set up a working group with charities and education bodies.

  19. Background: What is the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act?published at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2018

    Police jacket

    The Offensive Behaviour at Football Act (OBFA) became law in 2012, carried by the votes of the SNP majority government of the time despite opposition from all other parties.

    The Act aims to tackle religious hatred and bigotry related to football with jail terms of up to five years for behaviour which could cause public disorder in and around matches.

    The legislation created two offences relating to behaviour deemed to "incite religious, racial or other forms of hatred".