First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 19 December 2024.
Pauline McNeill
Labour
On Sunday 15 December, which was the day of the Scottish cup final, we witnessed appalling scenes of violence and disorder in the city centre of Glasgow, which was caused by groups of football supporters—who were not representative, of course, of the vast Majority of football fans.
First, I agree with the First Minister when, in response to that, he said that clubs have a role to play in preventing such disgraceful behaviour. We agree on that. However, given that the police are now trying to identify those who are responsible through the use of closed-circuit television and social media footage, is the First Minister aware that CCTV cameras in Glasgow are no longer staffed 24 hours, seven days a week? That means that, before the 3 pm shift, the cameras cannot zoom in and there cannot be detailed monitoring of disorder in real time.
I fully appreciate that the First Minister will say that he is not responsible for CCTV in Glasgow, but I am asking him not to stay silent about this. Does he believe that Police Scotland needs all available resources to tackle crime, not just those relating to football events but other crimes, such as violence against women, that often occur outwith those hours? Does the First Minister agree—
Alison Johnstone
Presiding Officer
Briefly, Ms McNeill.
Pauline McNeill
Labour
I appreciate that he might not be aware of this, but does he agree that it is a scandal that Police Scotland was not consulted when Glasgow City Council removed 24/7 CCTV? I would like the First Minister to agree with me on that.
John Swinney
Scottish National Party
I will have to look into the specifics of CCTV shift patterns, because it is not something for which I carry responsibility, so I will have to explore that point.
On the substantive issue that Pauline McNeill put to me, I want to make it clear that the overwhelming Majority of the fans who attended the football match behaved perfectly well. We are talking about a minority, and their behaviour has to be addressed. It is just not acceptable for Christmas shoppers to have to go through what they went through on Saturday. Whether it is Christmas shopping or shopping on any other day, it is just not on.
The clubs and the police have a role to play. Police Scotland had the situation in the city centre—unpleasant as it was—entirely under control, and they adapted their operational planning to deal with the situation as it emerged. I therefore have every commendation for the police and the way in which they deployed their resources.
Fundamentally, it is unacceptable for football fans—even a minority—to behave in the fashion that they behaved on Sunday. There cannot be a repeat of that. The police will be planning to deal with it, but the clubs have to take action and those who are responsible have to be apprehended.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
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