Lib Dems slam slow uptake of anti-sectarian services scheme
Just 22 people charged with offensive behaviour at football have completed a light-touch programme to address their sectarian attitudes while more than 200 have been prosecuted in court, the legal affairs minister has revealed.
Just 22 people charged with offensive behaviour at football have completed a light-touch programme to address their sectarian attitudes while more than 200 have been prosecuted in court, the legal affairs minister has revealed.
The Scottish Government gave £60,000 to community justice charity Sacro (Safeguarding Communities, Reducing Offending) to keep people aged 12 to 24 charged with sectarian offences out of court.
However, prosecutors have sent just 34 people to Sacro's anti-sectarian services scheme and just 22 people have completed the programme, according to legal affairs minister Annabelle Ewing.
More than 1,000 charges have been brought under the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act since its launch in 2011, leading to 216 criminal prosecutions, official figures up to 2015/16 show.
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur, who uncovered the Sacro data in a parliamentary question, said the low uptake is a cause for concern.
Sacro's diversion from prosecution scheme is something that has the potential to make a big difference,'' he said.The fact that uptake is so low is therefore a concern.
The Scottish Government has provided funding but more needs to be done to ensure that the Crown Office are making use of the programme when this is the best option.
Unless action is taken, SNP ministers leave themselves open to the charge of having no interest in genuinely addressing the huge flaws in the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act (OBFA) or supporting schemes that help keep people out of court.
OBFA might be a shambles but that does not change the fact that sectarianism remains a serious problem that needs to be tackled.
Ministers need to work with the Crown Office, police and other agencies to ensure that we are making the most of this resource.''
Ms Ewing said: The Scottish Government is committed to keeping people out of the criminal justice system whenever possible.
Diversionary schemes are designed to prevent the re-occurrence of offending through early or intensive intervention outwith court.
Decisions to refer an accused to a diversion scheme are taken by prosecutors after full consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case reported by the police.
The Scottish Government-supported Sacro anti-sectarian services (SASS) diversion from prosecution programme was developed in late 2013 and began working with referrals in May 2014.
The service is open to a wide range of organisations to make referrals although participation is voluntary, and if the client decides against participation the matter is returned to the referring body.
If this is a procurator fiscal, sheriff or early and effective intervention team, then the client may face prosecution or another disposal.
I will be seeking a meeting with the Lord Advocate in the near future to further discuss the diversionary approach.''
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said the Government had made it clear it is willing to discuss how any legitimate concerns about the Act can be addressed.
We have invited stakeholders to submit evidence about how it could be improved, but to date no one has done so,'' she said.
The Act sends out a clear message that Scotland will not tolerate any form of prejudice, discrimination or hate crime and it gives police and prosecutors an additional tool to tackle this behaviour.''