Violence soars 150 per cent when Old Firm meet

The full scale of the violence surrounding Old Firm games hasbeen revealed in new figures showing a massive increase in disorderon match days.Matches between Celtic and Rangers at weekends resultin more than two-and-a-half times the normal rate of violent crimeand disorder across the west of Scotland, according to policestatistics.The figures had been raised during a summit called byFirst Minister Alex Salmond after Strathclyde Police took theunprecedented step of asking the Scottish Government to intervenefollowing scenes of violence that marred last week's Scottish Cuptie.One of the main findings showed that although there is asignificant increase in the usual violence levels when the matchesare played midweek, the rise in violent crime is much higher atweekends.The figures from the chief constable of Strathclyde Police,Stephen House, compared the number of arrests at the last 18 OldFirm matches with the total the same time the previous week, when amatch between the two teams was not taking place.The news came aheadof the first meeting of an action group on Tuesday, that will lookat a series of proposals such as possible alcohol restrictions totackle the "appalling" violence surrounding Old Firm clashes.Aspokesman for the First Minister confirmed that the group, whichincludes representatives from the police, the Old Firm clubs andScottish Government, would meet at Hampden Park to "focus ondeveloping a work plan" in the wake of the recent violentclashes.Labour's justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "Clearly thislevel of appalling violence cannot be ignored and it's right thatit's being addressed by the action group."Meanwhile, the chiefconstable's figures show that when a match between the two is stagedon Saturday lunchtime the amount of violent crime jumps by 172 percent.The amount of disorder across the Strathclyde force areaincreases by 162 per cent compared to the previous Saturday andincidents of domestic abuse rise by 140 per cent.The number ofarrests grows 98 per cent when Old Firm derby matches are held onSunday lunchtimes, while violence increases 168 per cent above thelevel recorded the same time on the previous Sunday and disorder by141 per cent.Complaints of domestic abuse almost double, with 97 percent more cases recorded, while the number of arrests increases by97.5 per cent over the previous week.The figures showed that theincrease in violence when the derbies are staged midweek is muchlower, with 66 per cent more cases than the usual rate of violentcrime.Weekday matches result in a 43 per cent increase in disorder,about a quarter of the level when the game is played on a Saturday,and there is also a 57 per cent rise in domestic abuse complaintscompared to the same time the previous week.A spokesman for theFirst Minister said justice secretary Kenny MacAskill will chairTuesday's meeting of the action group.The committee will considermeasures such as warning Old Firm players they face arrest if theybreak the law during matches and a crackdown on those who incitehatred on internet sites.The group will report its final findings toministers in time for the 2011-12 football season.