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Criminal
Legislation Affecting Fans
While
responsibility for public safety now clearly rests with club
management, the preservation of public order, albeit more
and more supported by club stewards, is a task undertaken
by the police.
The
most common charges libelled against football fans by the
police include the following:
- Assault
Every attack directed to take effect physically on the person
of another, provided there is criminal intent, is assault,
whether or not actual injury is inflicted.
- Breach
of the peace
Breach of the peace is constituted by one or more persons
conducting himself or themselves anywhere in a riotous or
disorderly manner to the alarm, annoyance or disturbance
of the lieges.
- The
Public Order Act 1986
Penalises those who use threatening, abusive or insulting
words or behaviour, or display any written material which
is threatening, abusive or insulting, if they intend thereby
to stir up racial hatred or having regard to all the circumstances
racial hatred is likely to be stirred up; and those who
enter or attempt to enter a sports ground whilst in possession
of any article which is a firework or any article or substance
whose main purpose is the emission of a flare for the purpose
of illumination or signalling or the emission of smoke or
visible gas.
- The
Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995
Penalises those who, travel to and from sporting events,
whilst carrying alcohol on buses and trains; those attempting
to enter or found inside a sports ground with controlled
containers (bottle, cans &c); those attempting to enter
or found inside a sports ground whilst in possession of
alcohol; and those attempting to enter or found inside a
sports ground whilst drunk.

The
Lord Advocate's Instructions to Chief Constable's Regarding
Incidents During Sporting Events |More...|
Scottish
Police College Website |More...|
Strathclyde
Police Website |More...|
Scottish
Police Service Website |More...|
Scottish
Courts Website |More...|
Scottish
Law Online |More...|

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