29 Oct 2012 18:00:53
The Green Brigade's Statement on Police Harassment
Posted on October 29, 2012 by Crutches
Last year was somewhat unique. It will rightly be remembered as the year our great rivals died. Yet what seemed to almost slip under the radar amidst the hilarity at Ibrox was the continued harassment of the Green Brigade, and the Celtic fans in general by Strathclyde Police both before and after the SNP legislation was scribbled. We have remained relatively quiet on this issue up until now, but it has got us nowhere and the harassment has continued; in fact it has worsened.
Most Celtic fans heard about the unprecedented case of the 17 year old Celtic fan remanded in custody at HM Polmont Young Offenders Instituiton for an alleged breach of the peace. The fall-out and the protests of other Celtic fans led to that thankfully being overturned before too much damage was done to a young boy. However, there are numerous other cases that haven't been made public and so the Police have escaped criticism and been allowed to arrest and charge who they want, when they want. These include three of our members arrested by CID (two at home, one at work) after holding a banner reading 'Huns FC'. Their case lasted the best part of two years before finally a 'Not proven' verdict was delivered. The cost of that case will have been astronomical. Clearly unhappy at this, the Police arrested one of the above AGAIN, this time for alleged sectarian singing. This never even made the courtroom, after the CCTV was shown outside the court, showing him clearly singing 'Up the Celts' much to the embarrassment of the officers who turned up as Prosecution witnesses.
After the highly-successful 'Fans Against Criminalisation' demo at George Square, Celtic played Hibs in a bore 0-0 draw. The game will be remembered by many though, after the Police unnecessarily waded into 111 looking to make arrests for reasons unknown. On the concourse after the game, they successfully arrested one of our members, accusing him of abusing their officers. Again, this was nothing but a blatant lie and led to another court case with THREE different trial dates. A Not Guilty verdict was returned when the case was finally heard.
A month or so later, and we had another member in court. This time his alleged crime was for 'assault and resisting arrest' at a Semi-final at Hampden. Again though, he was found not guilty. We have some other court cases pending as we speak, but we are confident these will go the same way as every other one so far. However, they are still obviously causing massive inconvenience and are having a huge effect on people's livelihoods.
These charges have all led to our members missing matches watching and supporting the team they love. Celtic had banned every one of them while the cases were on-going. Indeed, the club do all they can to facilitate the Police and have offered no help whatsoever to their own support. After the match in Udine in December, Celtic banned a handful of supporters after flares were lit before kick off. One of these fans was a female season book holder in 111 whom, rather bizarrely, was watching the match from the comfort of her own living room! Thankfully, this was overturned eventually after it was pointed out to Celtic security that they had quite clearly made a rather embarrassing yet damaging mistake.
The level of surveillance applied to section 111 and the Green Brigade specifically verges on the surreal and is an astronomical waste of tax payers' money. 90 minute surveillance clearly isn't sufficient though as we learn from being filmed when approaching and leaving stadiums. A small band of Strathclyde Police following our members around Europe attempting to make their trips abroad uncomfortable also now appears to be common practice. Perhaps the hardest one for us to take is being filmed when inside Celtic Park hours early setting up for a display. Further from Celtic officials obviously accommodating such procedures they now believe it to be acceptable to hand over personal details of our members. Private information such as mobile phone numbers, names and addresses have been swapping hands without consent, even in instances where there is no alleged crime to answer for. Sadly, for us at least, this type of behaviour isn't wholly surprising from Celtic officials - whether it is being sanctioned by Chief Executive Peter Lawwell who privately described our songs as 'cancerous' or Head of Security Ronnie Hawthorn who willingly will ban dedicated Celtic supporters offering them no chance of a defence against their alleged breach.
In recent weeks there has been a noticeable upsurge from Strathclyde Police in targeting the Celtic support. Up until now they have tried and failed to secure convictions for singing Irish Republican songs, attempting to concoct all manner of charges desperate to find one that will stick. Under their new 'Anti-Football Legislation' they are now targeting the Roll of Honour with a number of fans being arrested and charged with 'offensive behaviour' and even 'Racial BOTP' for singing this song. The most recent arrest being one of our members who was arrested while leaving Celtic Park at the Kilmarnock fixture and who has only just been released after being handed a weekend in the cells. Co-coincidentally, or ironically even, the accused just happens to be someone who has already been through the charade of a football charge with all the accompanying delights and he came away victorious. You'd excuse his paranoia for thinking he was being targeted and tested here.
Perhaps quite unbelievable to some it is not just at or around matches where we get such unwarranted attention. A few months ago one of our members applied for a licence to become a taxi driver. Normally, this would be a straight-forward procedure for a young man with nothing but a minor Breach of the Peace charge from his teenage years. Not quite. He received a letter explaining that his application had been rejected on the grounds that he's not a 'fit and proper person' - an accusation based solely on his connections to the Green Brigade. This had come from the Chief Constable. Thankfully, after appeal, the licence was granted in the end but with no thanks to Strathclyde Police.
The above is just some of the instances of police harassment in the last 10-12 months. Not only is it causing innocent football fans great stress and hitting them badly in the pocket, it's also costing the taxpayer a fortune. For too long, we have sat back and let them do as they please but it has to stop, and we hope that the coming weeks and months will eventually see a change in their approach and we can get back to supporting our team without fear of arrest at home or away. We believe we sacrifice an awful lot as individuals and as a group in what we do. We dedicate our time and money for our passion of supporting Celtic in our style and we have always attempted to maintain an amicable working relationship with Celtic employees for the benefit of both parties - even when in dispute over certain issues. However we will not tolerate the level of harassment we continue to face nor Celtic PLC's compliant attitude
Green brigade never do a thing wrong do they?
Dry yer eyes and get on with it. Perhaps if the green brigade didnt make all the offensive banners(poppy banner, f**k uefa etc) people wouldnt be targeting you would they?
Grow up, stop the hatred and SUPPORT your team, just like Rangers are doing :)
LET THE PEOPLE SING.....
SUPPORT THE GREEN BRIGADE.. H.
To the idiot rangers fan. The green brigade actually make te atmosphere in celtic park. Even when 2-0 down they still sing away. Now if the police were to use the same powers over in govan way the cells would be full every week. I don't find the green brigade offensive nor do I find there banners offensive. Seems too many people are easily offended in this PC mad world.
"stop the hatred and support your team, just like rangers are doing" ha jesus f*ck, what a belter that one is mate. Just 2 days ago 3 of your very own "grown up, non hating" loyal fans were in the news for theyre sectarian efforts at away games. Your a comedian coming out with that ****e! Stay on your own page and dont get involved bawbag.
You want my opinion, i cant even imagine Celtic Park without the Green Brigade now. They create a fantastic atmosphere and i apreciate them for it. But what percentage of them agree with the poppy banner? because the ones that do are f*nny's because that was a f*cking joke and nothing to do Celtic football club. Those clowns can go and take theyre face for a ****e as far as i'm concerned. But without knowing who the bampots are and how many theyre are and who the loyal supporters are then how can you make a fair judgement.
We get it as well remember lads, constant police camera attention in where the blue order are. One of those things ah suppose. What can you do?
Hears a question and dont jump down my throat ... the green brigade does an excellent job wouldnt change it at all they create the atmosphere ... but on saturday it crossed my mind although they create atmosphere how much do they take away in the sense far too many supporters seem to watch the game and let the green brigade get on with it as though its their job now ,where as before the singing would come from different parts of the stadium am not criticising the green brigade but saying more fans from around the stadium should do their part aswell apart from the cross stadium glasgows green and white i dont remember any singing from anywhere other than the green brigade
The police cameras on the blue order are to take home and show the grand wanes thou
I hardly think the actions of the police, in the examples explained, amount to harassment. If you and many others like you realise that songs like "Roll of Honour" have no place within a football stadium then maybe the amount of police required would be less and thus the amount of attention the green brigade get would be less. I agree the new legislation is very strict and does take some of the harmless fun out of football but there are numerous songs sung by both sides of the old firm that are nothing to do with football. You will never be arrested for singing football songs.
To the rangers fan, it is clear to everyone's ears when you are shown on tv that your vile hatred songs can be easily heard. Even some of your fans on your page have asked you to stop this but yet no arrest or even a look at in the media or the police yet everyone hears it. So what is going on there eh? Favoritism maybe? Or they don't want to put even more bad press to your club?
There are lots of songs that are sung by football teams that have nothing to do with football (youl never walk alone, blowing bubbles west ham) among others songs are their for fans and clubs identities. Many songs may use the same tune as rebel songs but are changed to suit players or events that happened!!
Donegal Bhoy
First timer posting on here, Just a thought.... They should attend the AGM and put a motion to the floor, at least get it debated?!
The police, media and broadcaster's interpretation on the sectarian legislation is selective at least and even possibly corrupt.
I was visiting family on Sunday and a few were watching Clyde v 'Rangers' and the bigoted songs belting out were devoid of criticism by sky pundits or police, football authorities or MSP's. So there is a blind eye and deaf ear being turned to blatant sectarianism as it has been for centuries.
JJ
Poster 3. Remove the "hatred" and "just like Rangers are doing" from poster 1's comments (we both have our numpties obviously but I think the poster was actually referring to the pointless attendances debate with that remark rather than anything else - he highlighted SUPPORT just prior to it) and tell me which points you can actually disagree with and why, because I can't. It's all well and good that they create the atmosphere and they should be applauded for that because it can be electric on occasion but he wasn't criticising their contribution to the atmosphere, he was implying they were not as innocent as they claim in relation to other non-footballing matters. The Green Brigade contain some of the elements the club itself is quite rightly trying to rid itself of in this PC world as you called it. Rangers aren't the only ones who need to join the 21st century in that regard.
In relation to the banners, some of them are funny and clearly meant to wind people up in the right manner (i.e. the Zombie), some are politically motivated and CAN be and are offensive to a lot of people (i.e. the Poppy - would you not find a chicken supper banner being displayed at Ibrox offensive for example - given the connotations I would), and a very small number (Uefa) are related purely to footballing matters. Banter is fine, we as fans enjoy that, however the political ones have no justifiable place in ANY football stadium and the Uefa one was clearly ill advised given the reaction to it. I can't understand the logic of anyone who would disagree with the removal of political, or religious banners for that matter, from the game altogether. What do they have to do with football?
As for the songs the inappropriate ones do come mainly from the Green Brigade section of the ground and this is why the police focus on them. Stop singing them and the focus will lesson. As poster ten alludes to there are plenty of other more acceptable songs out there that aren't specifically football related. I would disagree with the poster about the changing of lyrics of rebel songs though as their use would still encourage the minority to continue with the original versions and keep its underlying presence within the ground. That way the Green Brigade could do what they do best, crank up the atmosphere, rather than bring unwelcome attention to the club and themselves. The Green Brigade and The Blue Order both still have a significant role to play for their respective clubs in my opinion but they have to move with the times and evolve as well.
Brian RFC
I sympathise with the Green Brigade in relation to the harassment. Looking from the outside in the new legislation seems ill-judged and knee jerk and would be more at home in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four.
More of a concern is how it is being enforced, when fans are being tormented at home and work, in what seems a planned and systematic attempt on censorship. I think the Green Brigade have been a breath of fresh air in terms of adding to the atmosphere. I also admire a lot of the issues they have taken a stance on and against. However, I personally don't like mixing politics with sport.
Lets be clear, The Roll of Honour is an Irish Republican song and can't be considered otherwise. I am Irish, a Republican and have supported Celtic all my life but I have never felt the necessity to mix them. When I got to Glasgow I go to watch football and sing Celtic songs. As someone quite rightly pointed out, nobody has ever been punished for singing football songs.
I would like to finish by saying I support you in your fight against the police injustices against your members. I would also say the day the club agrees to meet with you for a discussion would be the same day that they try to dictate and control what you say or display.
Keep up the good work but think twice before putting yourself in the line for criticism with ill-advised banners such the UEFA one. You know only too well without me telling you that the fans of our club are immensely proud of our standing in world football as the best in the business and want to keep it that way.
Representatives for the Green Brigade at the AGM? the media etc would be rubbing they're hands mate. They would drag a weeks news out of that.
There is a lot of vile that comes from the Green Brigade, which is a shame because they bring a lot of good to the atmosphere on match days. The Government is still hit and miss with the hatred policy, but until the hatred is gone for good, monitoring is needed. Needless to say that includes the Blue Order, and all clubs across the board. But I agree the policy has to be fair, and needs to improve.
To the guy a few posts above, your right the police have never had it in for rangers have they? No arrests? Right then. Away back to lala land.
I dont sit in with the blue order but i appreciate what they bring atmosphere wise to our games, much in the same way the green brigade do to
Celtic games. I don't condone anything political, sectarian, racist or bigoted being sung and it has no place in a football ground. But dont make out its just us, there are just as many celtic fans out there who feel the same about some of the gb stuff
Does the Green Brigade not have any friends in the media ? Why not invite the likes of Alex Thomson along to see what is going on. Even the likes of Graham Speirs can be quite open minded on these issues, when he wants to be. Else there could be a few cub reporters wanting to make a name for themselves in the newsroom. Forget most of the footie ones.
Their PR could do with being a bit more savvy, as 95% of the time they do stuff every fan likes then another 5% they do some stuff which is only going to stir up controversy. I.e. the Poppy banner and the upside down banner re John Reid, ( who was not defence secretary till after the gulf war.)
A wee bit of playing the media game and getting good PR and getting themselves well publicised would up their public image and then they could use this to fight off any attacks.
The Documentary on Trump and the gold course last week shows what can be done to show up bully boy tactics so inviting a reporter or news crew along undercover could be a useful ploy as long as nothing backfires to turn it into a negative episode.
With the likes of Dingwall, Jeff Winter and Chris Graham being regulars on the TV despite the potentially offensive stuff on blogs they are linked with, then there would certainly be a place for some media savvy Celtic fans and this would then help them to fight off harassment by having outlets to highlight what is going on.
Having a (sensible) voice in the media would be a good way of getting points made and would help them get taken seriously.
If they continue to be anti-everything and not embrace different tactics, then they do leave themselves open to be attacked. I have read some stuff that they seem to have issues with the club, but if they could mend any burnt bridges then this would help in the long run. I presume they could even get some high profile Supporters to back them up and to raise the profile of their issues. {Ed007's Note - Graham Spiers is a clown.}
Im a rangers fan i think the idea of singing sections in the ground are good but keep the songs free from politics and religion i love all the banners etc work is being done by rangers to get rid of the bigots and celtic too i hate religion in sport its not healthy lets work together for the better of the game
Original poster, I don't know how the police are treating member's of the Green Brigade ( did not know you had to have membership but there you go) surely as CELTIC supporter's you should be standing up for the policie's of the club, they don't want to hear pro I.R.A. song's at the game's, or a vast majority of the support.You are bringing yourselve's to the attention of the police by singing these song's. I agree that the battle for a united Ireland should be fought for but not at Celtic park. Keep up the good atmosphere but listen to Celtic and the vast amount of their support. Stop singing pro I.R.A. song's.
Tambhoy ( original )
Singing sections and displays are good it adds to the atmosphere most fans i know dont sing pro ira songs i dont think celtic park is the place for these songs time to move on