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Police chief calls for organised football celebrations

PA Media Celtic fans sitting top of traffic lights with hundreds of other fans on the street below them. One fan on a traffic light is holding a smoke bomb and there is more smoke at the back of the photo PA Media
Fans ignored warnings to stay away from the unofficial celebrations

Police Scotland's Chief Constable Jo Farrell is calling for an organised event for future football league title celebrations after violent scenes in Glasgow at the weekend.

Thousands of Celtic fans had gathered for an unofficial party to mark their club's success, with 20 people arrested for offences including assault and letting off pyrotechnics.

The chief constable emphasised that only a minority were involved in the disorder but said there was an impact on residents, businesses and tourism.

Speaking at a Scottish Police Authority board meeting, she said that there would need to be co-operation from the clubs and the Scottish Football Association for an official event.

"We need to bring some control and some safety controls to these celebrations," she said.

"The ideal is that we move to a position, in due course, where there is some organisation around these celebrations so that we can put in the right controls around safety and security."

She added that this should also lessen the impact on those people not involved in the celebrations, such as residents, businesses and tourists "so that everybody can go about their business".

MSP Paul Sweeney made the same suggestion for an organised celebration last year after an estimated 25,000 fans gathered around Glasgow Cross, leaving streets covered in litter and damage costing thousands to repair.

The Scottish government will hold a meeting next month to discuss the issues.

Ms Farrell highlighted that 320 officers were involved in the response at the weekend, who could otherwise have been available for other duties.

She added: "For me, the ideal scenario would be an agreed and organised event that ensures safety and security minimises wider disruption and which could also create economic opportunities."

"Those people that were involved in setting off pyrotechnics, use of inflammatory banners, violence, co-ordinated violence and disorder at the weekend were the minority.

"However, the impact on residents, businesses, tourism and cost to the taxpayer cannot be ignored, and we've received feedback from all of those groups."

PA Media A large gathering of Celtic fans on the Trongate in Glasgow. A number of fans are on top of the Mercat Cross and on traffic lights. Smoke fills the air. The fans are wearing Celtic strips and waving Celtic flagsPA Media
A number of fans scaled structures including traffic lights and the city's historic Mercat Cross

Celtic were officially named league champions on Saturday after a 1-1 draw with St Mirren.

Supporters gathered in the Glasgow Cross and Trongate areas, despite a plea by the club for people not to attend due to safety fears and concerns from local residents.

Celtic won its 55th league title last month but the trophy presentation traditionally takes place on the final day of the season.

Chief Supt Emma Croft previously said a "significant majority" of the fans were "highly intoxicated" at this year's celebrations and some were taken to hospital for suspected drug misuse.

PA Media Celtic fans in Celtic shirts sitting at a bus shelter with no glass in it. They are surrounded by rubbish on the street and a fan leans on an overflowing black council bin PA Media
Bus shelters were dismantled with the glass removed before the celebrations began

The gatherings were not supported by the police or Glasgow City Council, which said such events were disruptive and "robbed the public purse".

Some businesses were forced to close as a result of the disorder.

Bus shelters in the area were dismantled ahead of the match to prevent fans from climbing on the roofs, but many scaled other structures including signs and traffic lights.

Smoke bombs were let off as a police helicopter monitored the crowds from the air.

First Minister John Swinney condemned the weekend's violence and disorder as "completely unacceptable".