Charges reported under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act 2016-2017

1. Introduction

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 (hereafter referred to as the Act) came into force on 1 ^st March 2012. The Act criminalises behaviour which is threatening, hateful ^[2] or otherwise offensive at a regulated football match including offensive singing or chanting where it is likely to lead to public disorder. It also criminalises the communication of threats of serious violence and threats intended to incite religious hatred.

This report focusses on offensive behaviour at regulated football matches and provides an analysis of charges reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service ( COPFS) in the whole financial year of 1 ^st April 2016 to 31 ^st March 2017. ^[3]

This report provides information about the locations, dates of charges, the nature of the offensive behaviour, the age and the gender of the accused, and the nature of the victims.