SCOTLAND’S pubs and clubs have said they fear that police will not be able to respond to urgent calls on Hogmanay because they are too tied up with the Old Firm match.
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association, which represents Scotland’s pubs and clubs, said the Rangers v Celtic match on Hogmanay was irresponsible and naive and would be bad for business, with venues in
Glasgow city centre reporting that they have lost normally lucrative bookings for the day as punters avoid the city centre.
Paul Waterson, the SLTA’s chief executive, said his members had “obvious concerns” that more drinking and more people drinking would lead to emergency services being “subjected to extra pressure at an already busy time”.
Local council bylaws mean that December 31 is the only night of the year where it is legal to drink on the streets of Glasgow.
“Our pubs and bars will as always have a responsibility of controlling drinking within their premises, but who is going to control unsupervised home drinking and drinking in the street, particularly on a day such as Hogmanay?” Waterson asked.
“Have those involved in this decision taken into account the fact that Police Scotland reported that the number of calls concerning domestic abuse cases almost doubled on the day the teams met in their
Scottish Cup semi-final match earlier this year?
“Does no-one remember Police Scotland’s campaign last year during the festive season to reduce the number of domestic incidents during the festive period, a time when domestic violence is at it’s highest?
“It would seem not as both issues will now be drawn together by the staging of a Rangers v Celtic game on Hogmanay.”
The association also said it was odd that Police Scotland had opposed a licence being granted to Glasgow’s Oktoberfest beer festival, because last year’s event meant “2,200 revellers were heavily under the influence of alcohol by 4.30pm. Do Police
Scotland not have the same concerns for a Rangers v Celtic match on
Hogmanay?” they asked, before calling for the game to be played on January 2 or 3 “when all those involved can be focused on controlling fans before, during and after this often volatile game”.
Representatives of rank-and-file police officers and nurses have also expressed concerns about the end-of-year fixture.
Calum Steele from the Scottish Police Federation said: “The ordinary Hogmanay events taking place across the country will already have police resources stretched. It’s going to make for a very long and uncomfortable day for police officers.”
Royal College of Nursing Scotland associate director Norman Provan told the National: “We know from what our members have told us previously that there was an increase in people attending A&E as a result of ‘Old Firm’ violence.
“The atmosphere for staff could be quite uncomfortable and intimidating when rival fans were present, as they could be angry and aggressive towards the very people who are trying to help them. There is also the impact this behaviour has on members of the public waiting to be seen at what is already an anxious time for them.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scheduling of the Old Firm game is a matter for the SPFL, taking on board the views of Police Scotland.
“Police Scotland have confirmed that the policing of the match will be appropriate for the occasion.”
A spokesman for Glasgow Licensing Board said they had “no role in setting the football calendar. The extra hour for opening times on Hogmanay is agreed well in advance and we are not aware of any desire within the licensed trade to change this.”
Football: Joey Barton insists he still plans to make his mark at Rangers
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here