Police in Perth are pleased with an anti-sectarian initiative used at McDiarmid Park at the weekend.
Officers from western division worked with colleagues from the Scottish Police Football Co-ordination Unit during the Scottish Premier League match between St Johnstone and Rangers, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the visitors.
Sectarianism came to the fore again last season following a series of incidents, including Celtic manager Neil Lennon being the subject of letter bombs, along with QC Paul McBride and former politician Trish Godman.
In addition, a meeting was hastily arranged after the “shame game” between the Old Firm on March 3 at Celtic Park, which ended in an ugly confrontation between Lennon and Ally McCoist, the then Rangers assistant manager.
Yesterday Chief Inspector Andy McCann of western division, who was group commander at Saturday’s game at McDiarmid Park, said he felt the initiative went well.
“The move was met with a good response from both sets of fans,” he told The Courier.
“The Co-ordination unit know the sectarian songs that are sung at Old Firm games. The Old Firm are infrequently through at McDiarmid Park but the Co-ordination unit are at many football matches involving them.
“They are highly visible wearing their vests. There was a consistency in the message we got across.”
Mr McCann hopes the clampdown will encourage football matches to be family friendly.
“The Rangers fans told us they would self-police and would deal with any sectarian singing themselves,” he added.
“There was no trouble at all at the game. It was one of the easier football matches I have had to police in my 25 years’ experience.
“If that is the way it goes, then we will get a safe and responsible atmosphere at games.”
Superintendent Tony Beveridge, deputy divisional commander in Perth who was police commander at the game, said, “The new unit have officers who are very experienced in dealing with football crowds and are well aware of what constitutes unacceptable behaviour.
“We are committed to taking action to prevent anyone ruining a sporting atmosphere and working with the new unit means that we have a greatly enhanced capability to catch any offenders.”
Superintendent David Brand, the officer in charge of the Football Co-ordination Unit, said, “We have already deployed at Easter Road and in Blackpool and Northern Ireland, so fans are getting used to seeing us doing our job. It is apparent that we have already had a positive effect.”
Both St Johnstone and Rangers said they welcomed the partnership approach with the police.