More than 200 police officers and staff have taken part in a major football policing training exercise ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership meeting between Aberdeen and Rangers.
Police Scotland North East confirmed that probationary officers and staff took part in a full-day exercise at the Indodrill Stadium in Alloa, using sporting-event scenarios to prepare recruits for the demands of policing large football crowds.
The exercise focused on managing large groups of spectators, applying relevant legislation and dealing with identified offences.
It comes ahead of Rangers’ visit to Pittodrie on Sunday, August 30, with the fixture scheduled for a 12pm kick-off.
Superintendent Steven Duncan, Head of Operational Training, said the exercise gave probationary officers exposure to “high pressure and demanding situations” in a controlled learning environment.
He added that Police Scotland was continuing to develop its training curriculum to reflect the operational demands officers could face in real-life situations.
Previous Scottish football crowd trouble
The exercise also comes against the backdrop of significant disorder at a Scottish football fixture last season.
In March, Celtic’s Scottish Cup quarter-final victory over Rangers at Ibrox was followed by a pitch invasion and clashes between supporters. Police Scotland described the behaviour as “despicable”, with officers reporting extreme hostility and violence during the disorder.
Police subsequently launched a major investigation into the scenes, with CCTV images of 24 people later released as officers sought to identify individuals who could assist their enquiries.
The match ultimately saw Celtic defeat Rangers on penalties after a 0-0 draw, but the post-match scenes overshadowed the result, with supporters entering the pitch and disorder developing between rival groups.
The incident has continued to have consequences into this season, with Rangers and Celtic facing Scottish FA disciplinary proceedings over the disorder. An independent review also concluded that there was a risk of serious harm during the brief period of violence.
Rangers head to Pittodrie
Sunday’s Aberdeen-Rangers fixture will therefore provide another significant test of football policing operations.
Tensions are high within the Rangers support after Thursday's humiliating European exit to Jablonec, while Aberdeen fans are notably hostile towards the Govan side.
Police Scotland's North East exercise was not stated to be specifically organised for the Pittodrie fixture, but its emphasis on crowd management, legislation and dealing with offences highlights the importance placed on preparing officers for challenging football environments.
Police Scotland's wider approach to football policing has previously stressed the importance of intelligence gathering, risk assessment, resource deployment and clear command structures when managing matches.
With Aberdeen and Rangers meeting at Pittodrie on Sunday, officers will be tasked with ensuring supporters can attend the match safely while responding to any incidents that arise before, during or after the game.
Add us as a preferred source on Google