The most senior police officer in the UK with responsibility for football is to carry out an independent review of policing of matches in Scotland.
Police Scotland has asked Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Football Lead, to conduct the review.
He will lead a small team of subject matter experts to carry out an Independent Professional Assurance Review, covering operational planning for matches, intelligence gathering and resource deployment.
Police Scotland’s Deputy Chief Constable for Local Policing, Will Kerr, said the review, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, would also examine how the policing of football felt to those involved, including supporters, clubs and wider stakeholders.
DCC Kerr said, “This review is not about a particular incident or match, but about the policing of football in a wider sense.
“Police Scotland has an enviable reputation around how it polices large events, including sporting events such as the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games.
“It is important, however, for a learning organisation such as Police Scotland to reflect on areas where we may be able to improve our procedures and learn from good practice elsewhere.
“I am very grateful that DCC Roberts has agreed to carry out this important review. I’m keen that he is able to speak to a number of stakeholders involved in football matches, from the SFA to SPFL right through to supporters’ groups and football clubs.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
