Jack
12-07-2011, 02:33 PM
I’m not entirely sure why I put this up on this thread. Although it will affect us we didn’t get consulted!
The Joint Action Group on football has met for the final time before the new season delivering wide-ranging recommendations to improve the game.
The JAG has today agreed 40 points which make significant progress from the initial proposals set out at the meeting in March.
In attendance were First Minister Alex Salmond, Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Stephen House, Rangers Chief Operating Officer Ali Russell, Celtc Chief Executive Peter Lawwell, SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan, SFL Chief Executive David Longmuir, and SPL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Sport Shona Robison and Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns were also present.
Mr Salmond described the meeting as 'extremely productive', as a plan of action to drive forward work to deliver the eight commitments agreed at the recent summit was published.
It was also announced that the JAG will continue to meet over the course of the year as work is progressed on the new recommendations and as the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill goes through the parliamentary process. This will include engagement more formally with supporters to build consensus, seek their views, and consider any proposals they may have going forward to future seasons.
The plans announced today by the JAG include:
• A National Football Policing Unit will be established, enabling the Scottish Police Service to co-ordinate football intelligence and support post-match investigations. This will be backed by £1.8 million Scottish Government funding
• That all SFA member clubs agree to adopt a single code of conduct for players, coaches and other officials in Scottish football prior to the end of season 2011/2012
• All SFA member clubs agree to adopt a single code of conduct for supporters of Scottish football to be implemented prior to the end of the 2011/12 season, including a commitment to impose and enforce appropriate sanctions upon supporters involved in football-related offending
• A Match Commander protocol for briefing players, coaching staff and others be approved and implemented immediately
• Working with the Licence Trade to develop new local strategies for promoting responsible drinking and safer communities with retailers prior to key football games
• The Scottish Government and Licensing Board consider creating additional conditions using the Alcohol etc (Scotland) Act 2010 which will enable Licensing Boards to apply variations to opening hours for some or all licensed premises to restrict the sale of alcohol around matches
• The Scottish Government to consider introducing legislation which will allow a senior officer to apply to a court requesting the imposition of restrictions on licensed premises within an area where disorder is expected to occur
• ACPOS to develop good practice guidance in relation to Football Banning Orders (FBOs) prior to the commencement of season 2011/12 with appropriate training of officers
• As part of a comprehensive review of football related legislation, the Scottish Government should consider amendments to legislation relating to FBOs in order that they are used more effectively and additional provisions will be considered which will extend their use
• The New Year Old Firm derby match for 2011/2012 will be rescheduled to the evening of Wednesday 28 December. The post-split Old Firm derby match will also be scheduled in consultation with ACPOS, prior to finalisations of the post-split SPL fixture list. The post-split SPL fixture list will include one mid-week fixture round
• JAG partners will work with the ACPOS Domestic Abuse Working Group, building on initiatives to tackle domestic abuse, including the use of appropriate tools to identify and address football-related domestic abuse
Running in tandem with the above, action to target offensive behaviour in and around football games and threatening behaviour on the internet is being taken forward by a Bill going through the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Government Bill proposes creating two new offences - punishable with a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Football Summit Joint Action Group report (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/07/football-summit-report)
The Joint Action Group on football has met for the final time before the new season delivering wide-ranging recommendations to improve the game.
The JAG has today agreed 40 points which make significant progress from the initial proposals set out at the meeting in March.
In attendance were First Minister Alex Salmond, Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Stephen House, Rangers Chief Operating Officer Ali Russell, Celtc Chief Executive Peter Lawwell, SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan, SFL Chief Executive David Longmuir, and SPL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Sport Shona Robison and Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns were also present.
Mr Salmond described the meeting as 'extremely productive', as a plan of action to drive forward work to deliver the eight commitments agreed at the recent summit was published.
It was also announced that the JAG will continue to meet over the course of the year as work is progressed on the new recommendations and as the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill goes through the parliamentary process. This will include engagement more formally with supporters to build consensus, seek their views, and consider any proposals they may have going forward to future seasons.
The plans announced today by the JAG include:
• A National Football Policing Unit will be established, enabling the Scottish Police Service to co-ordinate football intelligence and support post-match investigations. This will be backed by £1.8 million Scottish Government funding
• That all SFA member clubs agree to adopt a single code of conduct for players, coaches and other officials in Scottish football prior to the end of season 2011/2012
• All SFA member clubs agree to adopt a single code of conduct for supporters of Scottish football to be implemented prior to the end of the 2011/12 season, including a commitment to impose and enforce appropriate sanctions upon supporters involved in football-related offending
• A Match Commander protocol for briefing players, coaching staff and others be approved and implemented immediately
• Working with the Licence Trade to develop new local strategies for promoting responsible drinking and safer communities with retailers prior to key football games
• The Scottish Government and Licensing Board consider creating additional conditions using the Alcohol etc (Scotland) Act 2010 which will enable Licensing Boards to apply variations to opening hours for some or all licensed premises to restrict the sale of alcohol around matches
• The Scottish Government to consider introducing legislation which will allow a senior officer to apply to a court requesting the imposition of restrictions on licensed premises within an area where disorder is expected to occur
• ACPOS to develop good practice guidance in relation to Football Banning Orders (FBOs) prior to the commencement of season 2011/12 with appropriate training of officers
• As part of a comprehensive review of football related legislation, the Scottish Government should consider amendments to legislation relating to FBOs in order that they are used more effectively and additional provisions will be considered which will extend their use
• The New Year Old Firm derby match for 2011/2012 will be rescheduled to the evening of Wednesday 28 December. The post-split Old Firm derby match will also be scheduled in consultation with ACPOS, prior to finalisations of the post-split SPL fixture list. The post-split SPL fixture list will include one mid-week fixture round
• JAG partners will work with the ACPOS Domestic Abuse Working Group, building on initiatives to tackle domestic abuse, including the use of appropriate tools to identify and address football-related domestic abuse
Running in tandem with the above, action to target offensive behaviour in and around football games and threatening behaviour on the internet is being taken forward by a Bill going through the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Government Bill proposes creating two new offences - punishable with a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Football Summit Joint Action Group report (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/07/football-summit-report)