Contempt of Court

Today has saw yet another case and yet another Not Guilty verdict in relation to the SNP's Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act. Yet another innocent civilian, who would no doubt like many before them most probably never have seen the inside of a court room where it not for this act, dragged through the indignity of a court proceeding putting at risk a job, a life's work and a families financial and emotional stability.

Despite widespread anger and opposition to the policy from it's outset and early stages in the Scottish Parliament back in 2011 from civic scotland, nil-by-mouth, the footballing community and all political spheres minus the SNP of course, the party have recently dug their heels in and refused to backtrack or even to call an early review of the policy as their time in majority government at Holyrood draws towards its final 18 months. Despite both a new leader and a new cabinet Secretary for Justice in Michael Matheson, the party seem intent on continuing their dismissal of the factual evidence that suggests the OBFA is unworkable legislation which at present is making a mockery of the Scottish legal system. 

The defence from the SNP, well certainly local to me SNP MSP John Mason is that the act was "well meaning" and was designed to deal with sectarian incidents of abuse. That will explain why then the act fails to mention the word sectarianism once throughout and instead deals with the term "offensiveness" which is of course highly subjective depending on the individual involved. Sectarian related offences were also already covered by existing legislation in Scotland dating back over a decade. 

What the act has done in reality, despite Mr Masons inability to recognise thus, has led to: a huge burden on the taxpayer for pursuing these cases, criminalised non-discriminatory political beliefs and opinions, and further damaged a relationship between Police and working class communities which make up the majority of footballing crowds. A relationship which was already largely at rock bottom. Further to this, it's seen the Scottish Government under investigation for breach of the European Convention on Human Rights in regards to the act's limiting of freedom of political views, expression and freedom of speech. 

It's time the SNP admitted their doubts over the Act and called an early review. I am therefore directly appealing to the new Justice Secretary Michael Matheson to do exactly that, and distance himself from his predecessor Mr MacAskills attempts to criminalise football fans and to stop them from voicing a legitimate, non-discriminatory political opinion. I also appeal to all of the SNP's now near 100,000 membership to raise questions over the Act at branch meetings and to all non SNP members to lobby their MSP over this issue and demand a review. It's time for immediate review, it's time to #AxeTheAct.