Skip Navigation,Sitemap

Dunfermline Press

Six arrests at last three Pars matches

Published 21 Oct 2011 07:26 Print Comments 43 Comments

Jump to first paragraph.

Share this Facebook Twitter Google Buzz Delicious DIGG Reddit Stumbleupon Email RSS

PLAIN clothes police officers will continue to mix with fans at East End Park after six arrests during the last three Dunfermline Athletic home games.

In a crackdown on football-related hate crime, Fife police is sending a message to those who shout racist or sectarian abuse that they won't be ignored - they'll be arrested.

Six fans, two from the home end and four from the away section, have been arrested at Dunfermline's last three home games against Hibs, Rangers and Hearts.

Although there's pressure from politicians as the Scottish Government considers legislation to tackle the bigots, the club's own supporters are fed up and pointing the finger.

Detective Inspector David McLaren said, "As well as the national drive to tackle hate crime, we've had intelligence from fans about players and opposing fans being racially and religiously abused during games.

"As part of Operation Challenge we've had plain clothes officers in the home and away ends at East End Park.

"It's not extra resources, these officers would have been on duty at the game anyway, but clearly there is a problem if members of the public are complaining about it."

He continued, "If we are getting people going to football matches and they are acting in a racist or sectarian manner we'll arrest them and they'll appear in court.

"We don't want this type of behaviour at matches or anywhere for that matter.

"I would like to stress again that we are talking about a very small minority of fans and it's not just Dunfermline fans, arrests have been made in the away end as well."

The stadium has new CCTV cameras while the Football Co-ordination Unit Scotland (Focus) - a national police unit that works with officers policing football matches - has also been helping out at Dunfermline.

In high-visibility jackets, officers from the unit have been filming the fans at matches and were responsible for two of the six arrests that have occurred at Dunfermline's ground.

DI McLaren added, "Fife Constabulary and the club are taking this issue seriously and I hope these and any further arrests will act as a deterrent for those people intent on conducting themselves in a racially or religiously prejudiced manner.

"Operation Challenge will continue at future Dunfermline home games."

A group of football fans who sang sectarian songs during a train journey at the weekend are also being sought by police.

The 40 fans were on the 1.19pm Edinburgh Waverley to Cowdenbeath service on Saturday when they were heard singing and shouting "unsavoury" comments.

The fans, thought to be Hearts supporters, either got off at Dunfermline Town or Dunfermline Queen Margaret Station.

British Transport Police Constable Stuart Cowan said, "Hate crime of any form will not be tolerated by British Transport Police on Scotland's rail network.I am appealing for anyone who was on the train or the stations and witnessed the despicable behaviour of the so called supporters, or has any information regarding the identity of those involved, to contact me as a matter of urgency."

The BTP can be contacted on 0800 405040 or information can be given anonymously at Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Post a comment

Registered users log in here

You must be logged in to post. If you have not registered with us, please do so now.

Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users do not have to complete word verification once logged in and can also take part in competitions and other registered user only features of the site.


Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Vote

Dunfermline Press Poll

Do you agree with plans to pay for parking on your mobile phone?



Most Read

  1. BREAKING NEWS: Halbeath Road closed after police accident
  2. Dunfermline child abuse prisoner dies in custody
  3. BREAKING NEWS - Police vehicle in Halbeath Road collision
  4. BREAKING NEWS: Police to make arrests after fans set off smoke bombs
  5. BREAKING NEWS: Valleyfield stabbing - man walks free from High Court
  6. Developer offers £1 for £174,000 Dunfermline site

» View More Stories

You may have missed

Hot Jobs

Your social, local Business Directory - It's in DunfermlineIt's in The DirectoryDirectory Network

Copyright ©2013 Forth Weekly Press, Pitreavie Business Park, Dunfermline, Fife, KY11 8QS • Tel: 01383 747500 • Fax: 01383 737040

Login     RSS Feeds FacebooK Twitter

close XCookies

We use cookies to enhance the use of our site - please see here for our Privacy and Cookie policy.