Known troublemakers will be banned from football grounds

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) organised a summit looking at ways of keeping hooligans away from grounds.

Police in Scotland will for the first time be able to use banning orders to clamp down on known troublemakers.

The summit was held at Strathclyde Police's training centre, near East Kilbride.

Delegates were told how the legislation had worked in England and Wales and how police north of the border could benefit.

Scottish forces are being given the power to ban hooligans from stadia across the UK and games in Europe involving the national side.

Football banning orders will have a real impact - helping to end trouble before it starts Cathy Jamieson Justice Minister

The provisions are contained in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, which also covers sectarian-related offences.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson, who gave the opening address at the conference, said she believed banning orders would have a significant impact on troublemakers.

"Some people seem to think that sectarian abuse or violence which would never be tolerated elsewhere in our society will be tolerated at football matches," she said.

Bigotry clampdown

"The message that the Scottish Executive is sending is clear - bigotry has no place in a modern Scotland and we have been working hard with football clubs and associations to stamp it out.

"Football banning orders will have a real impact - helping to end trouble before it starts. They mark another step towards changing attitudes and building a nation of opportunity and respect."

The conference also heard from Bryan Drew, head of the UK Football Policing Unit, Andy Brame, head of football policy for the unit, and David Bohannan, head of the Home Office Football Unit.

Chief Superintendent Kenny Scott spoke on the banning orders as well as the policing of sectarianism in Scottish football.

Police officers from across Scotland, procurators fiscal, Scottish Executive officials and the football authorities attended the conference.

'No borders'

Assistant Chief Constable Kevin Smith, who leads on football issues for Acpos, said: "I am delighted that we have managed to attract the main experts in the field of football banning orders to speak at this conference.

"There can be no doubts that this legislation is set to have a major impact on the policing of football matches in Scotland and it is important that all the authorities who may be affected are aware of how this will affect them.

"We have to ensure that there are no borders when it comes to dealing with those who are intent on causing disorder at football games. A banned football hooligan should find stadium doors closed to him whether he is in Glasgow or London."