WORK will be needed to try to rebuild trust between police and football fans even if anti-sectarian legislation is scrapped, MSPs have been told.
Labour’s James Kelly said getting rid of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act would not be the “end of the matter”.
He is behind a Holyrood Member’s Bill that aims to repeal the legislation, which he described as being “discredited” and ineffective.
MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee are considering the matter. Kelly told them he wanted to axe the existing law because “it is unfair that football fans are targeted” and he does not think the legislation is working.
He added: “Separate to that, there needs to be work done with supporters and the police and the clubs to rebuild a better relationship, in order that we get more effective policing. I don’t see the repeal of this Act as the end of the matter.
“I think there is a job for all of us to do in terms of putting out a message that religious intolerance is unacceptable, pointing to effective legislation to deal with that, and there is a big job to be done in terms of the police and the supporters.
“It is a two-way street to work together in order to build trust. In my opinion, a programme of work would be required going forward following the repeal of this Act.”
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