Towards the end of 2012, the Green Brigade announced a two- - One of those members was arrested at a busy airport in match boycott of due to the continued police front of family on arrival from holiday, like some kind of harassment of our members. We hoped to highlight the extent of fugitive our ill-treatment and perhaps force the police into a re-think - The first of those charged had his first court appearance regarding their bully boy tactics. Sadly the harassment has two weeks ago. This was laughed out of court but not actually worsened since then, leading up to the events of last before the stress and inconvenience of telling family Saturday which left the group with little choice but to leave the members, taking time off work and missing big matches stadium before kick-off. It has reached the stage where our very - Numerous members have been harassed at their homes existence is under serious threat as fans will not continue to pay in recent weeks, another clear tactic of intimidation. £500+ to be treated like criminals. Our decision not to attend the Dundee Utd match was not FoCUS ON THIS something that we had planned. It was a decision forced upon us that had to be made purely to protect our own members and The majority of our and indeed other fans’ mistreatment comes others within 111. Events unfolded as follows: from Strathclyde Police’s FoCUS Unit which is described on SP’s website by the following: - Hours before kick-off we were traced at the Celtic Club on London Rd by Strathclyde Police “FoCUS was formally established in July 2011 and is based at - Some of our merchandise was confiscated from those had Helen Street Police Office, . The team was established just purchased it following publication of the Scottish Government Joint Action - Staff were questioned as to why we were on the premises Group report which made 41 recommendations, all intended to and allowed to sell our merchandise maximise supporters’ enjoyment of the game whilst tackling - At the stadium there was the usual reception from those who misbehave. Strathclyde Police, with Tommy McCrindle directing orders and in possession of a ‘wanted list’ of names and photos The Joint Action Group, which comprises of Football Authorities, - At the stadium 3 members were either refused entry or Celtic FC, Rangers FC, Police and Scottish Government, identified removed immediately after gaining entry; one member a need to work in partnership to tackle the minority who behave has since received an apology from the club who in an unacceptable way at football. In doing so, the Joint Action predictably blamed the police for causing incident Group seek to bring positive benefits to Scottish football and - Others were forced to hand over personal details or face society through addressing the issues of alcohol misuse, violence arrest and bigotry within the context of football.” It definitely seems that the police and indeed the club have upped the ante even further in recent weeks. The facts are: Let us shed a little light on this unit:

- We are now 10 members down since the turn of the year - Celtic supporters have the same team of Officers following - We have had two members arrested and charged over the them week in, week out, the length and breadth of the 'zombie' banner that was unfurled at the Norwich friendly country and even beyond in Europe - This allows them to become familiar with the names and - McCrindle went one step further by first challenging the faces of fans, more-so ones they see as being the most PF to remand one member and secondly, after this failed, regular attendees or ones considered a ‘higher risk’ trying to have the same members passport surrendered - They gather intelligence on these people from learning until his trial – thankfully neither were withheld their names, to occupations, where they reside and even - This man and his colleagues’ wages are paid by us, the information regarding partners or other family members tax-payers, even when on jaunts to Amsterdam, Helsinki, - Information outlined above is often ‘dropped’ in an Helsinborg, Moscow, Barcelona, Lisbon and soon to be intimidating and threatening manner merely to make it Turin. Again on his facebook there were remarks known that they have this info regarding these “working holidays” - The aforementioned Tommy McCrindle is a senior officer in this unit and often at the forefront of its actions Strathclyde Police’s boldest move against the Green Brigade still - On top of his general bully boy antics in person, the remains their quite unbelievable attempt to disrupt a job unprofessional McCrindle also boasts on his Facebook application of one of our members. Upon applying for a taxi- page of working at “Fume-a-Pest & Termite Control” license SP intervened by lodging an objection on the grounds - Following the Juventus match 3 GB members were being that he wasn’t a ‘fit and proper person’ – based solely on his charged with BotP until McCrindle ensured they were association to the Green Brigade. This was a young man with no charged under Offensive Behaviour at Football in order to criminal record bar a minor BotP charge from his youth. secure Football Banning Orders as part of bail conditions Thankfully, after an appeal the license (for a limited probationary period) was granted however it does go to show the lengths these people are prepared to go in order to disrupt the lives of those associated with the Green Brigade.

‘THE CELTIC FAMILY’

In between our two match boycott in December we were contacted by the club who wished to discuss and resolve any issues we may have. Naturally we took them up on this off only we requested that also be present given his public comments suggesting he’d like this. The club quickly made a u- turn here though insisting they were ‘too busy’ to meet. We have since made fresh requests which have been ignored and as a result any relationship we had with the club has completely deteriorated. Since then a previously helpful ticket office has become uncooperative with us whilst there’s been an overhaul of the stewarding team in our area after developing a positive working relationship. Our request to have Lennon present at a meeting is simple in that we believe that we can trust him, even - Alleged ‘ringleaders’ were pinpointed as folk who ‘had to as him just bearing witness to what was being said. We can’t say go’ the same for Peter Lawwell or Ronnie Hawthorn going by past - One particular person highlighted had ginger hair: before experience: the Juventus match three lads with ginger hair were arrested and banned; before the Dundee Utd match one - Lawwell has broken promises regarding assisting with of lad with ginger hair was refused entry and told he was court cases and charges banned - Lawwell has told bare faced lies to our faces regarding the role he and the club will play in said court cases It has now gotten to the stage whereby members of our group - Lawwell pledged to help in an 18 month trial against 3 of live in constant fear of the police showing up at their homes or our members for holding a banner displaying the term workplace with a trumped up charge, or to be told that they are ‘huns fc’ banned from football matches as they approach the gates of 111. - Lawwell described the charge as ‘a joke’ and said that Now, more than ever, the continued support of the rest of the both his view and the view of the club is that the term Celtic fans is appreciated immensely. We cannot stress enough isn’t sectarian that if things do not change for the better, the group will be - Lawwell assured us he’d repeat that line in court only unable to continue to attend matches to support the club that we backtracked when a lawyer started making inroads all love. - Lawwell also claimed that the only involvement any club employee was to play in this trial was in handing over CCTV footage - Instead a senior member of Celtic security, David Brannan, appeared as a prosecution witness and remarkably claimed that a banner depicting Neil Lennon towering over a burning Ibrox (a play on the iconic Lenin image) was so offensive that it reminded him of the Bradford Fire Disaster

Further from this we have learned recently of meetings arranged by the club involving fan organisations such as the CSA and Affiliation of CSC’s, hearing the following:

- The club insisting they want to see the end of the Green Brigade stating “we’ll give them enough rope to hang themselves” - A video compilation was shown of supposed unsavory elements of the group Summary of Police Incidents

Concluded Cases & Results On-going Cases

- 3x Breach of the Peace charges (initially Sectarian Breach of the - 3x Offensive Behaviour at Football charges relating to alleged Peace) relating to Huns FC banner on the opening day of the disorder at the match against Juventus. Original charges were 10/11 season. Verdict: Not Guilty. Breach of the Peace, but intervention of Tommy McCrindle seen - 1x Breach of the Peace charge for allegedly swearing at a police the charges changed to ensure the victims were given bans until officer in attempt to provoke disorder at a home match v St. trial Johnstone in October ’11. Verdict: Not Guilty. - 1x Offensive Behaviour at Football charge relating to a member - Member applied for a taxi license from Glasgow City Council. allegedly swearing at a police officer. Special bail conditions Police lodged a special objection against him citing his asking for a ban were removed. “behaviour at football.” Verdict: Application granted. - 1x Offensive Behaviour at Football charge for allegedly - 1x Offensive Behaviour at Football charge for singing the Roll of displaying the “Zombie,” banner at the match against Norwich in Honour after the Police showed up at 6am on the morning prior the 12/13 pre-season friendly in Glasgow. Police officers awaited to the league cup final. Verdict: Case dropped before trial. the member’s return from a family holiday, when he was - 1x charge of freeing a suspect from custody during a police arrested at the airport in full view of his family and the public. attempt to enter 111 in the match against Hibs on the day of - 1x Offensive Behaviour at Football charge for allegedly singing the Fans Against Criminalisation demo in George’s Square. the Roll of Honour at the Kilmarnock game in October 2012. Verdict: Not Guilty. Having won his previous case for freeing a suspect from - 1x Offensive Behaviour at Football charge for allegedly custody, it seems the police found cause to arrest him for a displaying the “Zombie,” banner at the match against Norwich in second time. the 12/13 pre-season friendly in Glasgow Verdict: Case

dropped.