Latest news with #Constance
STV News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
Almost 30,000 community service orders breached in 11 years, figures show
Almost 30,000 breaches of community sentences have been recorded over 11 years, data obtained by the Scottish Conservatives shows. Of those who breached community payback orders (CPOs), 8,078 resulted in the offender being handed another community sentence while 7,956 led to a custodial sentence being imposed. The Tories said the freedom of information data showed 'the SNP's soft-touch justice system in action'. Figures showed 29,544 breaches of CPOs between 2012-13 and 2023-24. Justice Secretary Angela Constance has recently spoken of the need to 'shift the balance from custody to justice in the community' as part of measures to deal with prison overcrowding. Earlier this year, Constance announced there would be an independent review into sentencing and penal policy in Scotland. The Conservatives have called for more stringent sanctions for offenders who violate CPOs. Sharon Dowey MSP said: 'These shocking figures are yet more evidence of the SNP's soft-touch justice system in action. 'Given the increased use of community payback orders, the very least the public expect is for offenders to carry out the sentence imposed on them. 'Where there has been a breach, offenders should be properly punished rather than let off the hook. It defies belief that so many are simply having another CPO issued.' She added: 'It sends a clear message to criminals that there are no consequences for failing to pay their dues, which makes a mockery of the justice system. 'These figures are yet another example of John Swinney's Government pandering to criminals and betraying victims.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Community payback orders are a flexible and robust disposal, with a consistently lower reconviction rate compared to short prison sentences. 'That's why the budget for 2025-26 includes an additional £11m in support for community justice services and ongoing work to further enable a shift away from the use of custody. 'Where a CPO has been breached, it is up to the independent courts to decide the most appropriate outcome based on all of the circumstances of the case. 'Ultimately, this may include the imposition of a custodial sentence'. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Football hooligan crackdown ordered by justice minister after Old Firm experience
The SNP minister told how she could barely breathe or see the action on the pitch as 'ultras' lit hundreds of pyros at the Scottish League Cup Final in December. A crackdown on hooligan behaviour at football has been ordered by justice minister Angela Constance after her own experience of Old Firm mayhem. The SNP minister told how she could barely breathe or see the action on the pitch as 'ultras' lit hundreds of pyros at the Scottish League Cup Final in December. Before the game troublemakers rampaged through Glasgow city centre, spreading fear and panic. The game itself was delayed after pyro displays from both sides saw smoke sweep through Hampden. The justice minister hosted a round table discussion with football bosses, clubs, prosecutors and fans at Holyrood yesterday to find a way to tackle disorder at Scottish football. And she told the Record she is determined to change the turbulent and violent course of fan behaviour. Constance said: 'In terms of what I saw at the Old Firm game and also what I heard today, it's very clear that the issue with pyrotechnics isn't just an Old Firm problem, it is further afield and pyrotechnics have been utilised in smaller clubs and in smaller venues as well. 'But at the match I was deeply concerned for people who were there with children. And it was difficult to follow the football for all the coughing and spluttering I was doing. 'The health impacts certainly concerned me, not just because there was a delay to the match. The amount of smoke was phenomenal and there was a serious danger to folk carrying or lighting pyrotechnics too, as well as the stewards, players and families. So it gave me big concerns from a safety point of view.' At yesterday's summit, police, club chiefs and fan groups were shown footage of the damage done by pyros across Europe, where some players and officials were seriously injured. Last week SFA bosses suggested police and the Scottish Government should take the reins on curbing bad behaviour – starting with wider use of tough banning orders. Constance said she was determined not to be seen to be playing 'pass the parcel' with responsibility. She said: 'I gave a commitment earlier this year to chair a round table, a meeting of all our partners because of growing concerns around football disorder. 'By that I mean within the stadium or the impact on communities after matches. I very much recognise that the vast majority of football fans behave responsibly, but I can't ignore the behaviour of a very small minority. It was a very constructive meeting. There is a very strong shared will and desire for us all to work together to ensure football is safe for fans, players and also the wider community.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Constance was told by the SPFL how they are sharing information with police and football authorities using CCTV to weed out disruptive fans. She said a consultation on Football Banning Orders will examine use of current laws and what enforcement is needed to combat disorder on the terraces. She said: 'Attending the Old Firm game certainly increased my resolve to do more to address the issue of pyrotechnics. I'm very pleased to have secured in our Programme for Government a commitment to consult – and the consultation will be launched this year on Football Banning Orders. 'That will test whether we've got the right legislation for the issues we face today and tomorrow. So we need to future proof our legislation, because there are concerns we don't have the right legislative response for pyrotechnics in the context of football matches.' Despite the recent revelation that Scotland saw just five banning orders in the last season, Constance would not commit to supporting a wave of new bans. SFA chairman Mike Mulraney last week said 10-year banning orders offer the 'jeopardy' required to moderate bad behaviour. Constance said: 'If we have legislation that can be utilised, that's a tool that should be used. But I also acknowledge legislation on its own is rarely the answer. The work to educate people and to engage people is important.' The summit will lead to a public consultation on banning orders legislation.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kick yobs out of Scottish football after violence and disorder mars beautiful game
Kick yobs out of beautiful game Scottish football enjoys a reputation for having some of the most passionate but good natured fans around. Every major championship – when we qualify – sees our supporters winning hearts and minds in our host countries. When it comes to club football, we have some of the highest attendances per head of population in Europe. Our love affair with the beautiful game is there for all to see. But during the season just finished we have witnessed a new and darker edge creeping in to Scottish football. Black-clad 'ultra' groups left shoppers terrified as they rampaged through the streets of Glasgow before the Old Firm League Cup final in December. Pyro-waving mobs also tarnish matchdays with their dangerous displays around and inside football grounds. Then there is the growing menace of items being thrown at players on the pitch – with one Aberdeen player being hospitalised after he was hit by a seat thrown by one of his own fans. This violence and disorder could end up as a defining characteristic of Scottish football unless tough action is taken. So it is encouraging to hear Justice Secretary Angela Constance vow to tackle this problem. She staged a summit with clubs, police and fans yesterday to try to find a way forward. And in an interview in today's Daily Record she tells how her own experiences watching football have inspired her to take action. We wish Constance well in her campaign to clean up Scottish football. Real fans will also be singing her praises if she succeeds. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Learn lessons In 2015, Nicola Sturgeon declared that cutting the education attainment gap would be her 'priority' as first minister. She said she 'wants to be judged on this' and that 'it really matters'. She even made John Swinney – her then deputy and one of her closest allies – education secretary to make sure progress was made. So it is surprising that after 18 years of promises under the SNP, the gap between the richest and poorest going to university is widening. Scottish Government statistics showed 25 per cent of young people from the poorest areas went to uni last year, compared with 60 per cent of the most wealthy kids. The gap of 34.7 per cent is up on the 32.5 per cent figure from the year before. Scotland's most disadvantaged pupils risk being left behind when it comes to higher education. No wonder so many young people feel disengaged from politics when promises like this are not kept.
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Celtic and Rangers in summit to tackle football disorder
A roundtable meeting led by Angela Constance, Justice Secretary, discussed stamping out disorder around matches. Recent seasons have seen a number of flashpoints including the use of pyrotechnics in stadiums and violence between rival supporters outside and in areas around stadiums at matches in Scotland. READ NEXT:Police officers slam Green Brigade Sheku Bayoh sign at Kelvingrove as biased As well as the two Glasgow Scottish Premiership clubs, Aberdeen and Hibernian were represented together with the SPFL and SFA. Fans' groups Supporters Direct and Scottish Football Supporters Association took part with the Professional Footballers Association. Justice organisations were represented with Police Scotland, British Transport Police, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, together with officials from COSLA, Glasgow City Council and City of Edinburgh Council. The Scottish Government called the meeting to discuss efforts, including banning orders to crackdown on disorder, including pyrotechnics. Following the meeting, Constance, said: 'The vast majority of football fans behave responsibly. However, we need to look at what more can be done to address the very small minority who continue to create disorder. 'At the roundtable today, I was pleased to see a strong shared will and commitment of partners, including football clubs and authorities, fans' groups, football safety officers and councils, to work together to make football safer for fans, players and communities. 'We must all do everything possible, individually and collectively, to rid football of dangerous and harmful behaviours. 'We will publish a public consultation on Football Banning Orders legislation and how they can be effectively used to address disorder, in particular the reckless and illegal use of pyrotechnics at matches, and work closely with our partners to develop the consultation and consider next steps.'
The Hindu
7 days ago
- The Hindu
Mango's Culinary Journey and Roots Explored in New Book
Not many know that the origin of the mango lies in northeast India, or that grinding stones and pottery dating from 1500 BC and belonging to the Harappans revealed traces of the fruit. If you would like to deep dive into the history of the king of fruits, Mango: A Global History by sisters Constance L Kirker and Mary Newman is a great starting point. Launched as a part of the Edible series (published by Pan Macmillan), the book traces the fruit's history, its cultural significance in India with references in Hindu epics and Ghalib's poetry, and also delves into the geopolitics of mango cultivation, consumption, and current sustainability efforts. The duo says that it was during the research for Edible Flowers: A Global History (2016), that they visited markets in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 'Connie lived for a while in Singapore and travelled frequently throughout Asia. Based on what we learned on our travels,mango seemed a natural progression for the series,' says Mary, a writer and culinary researcher.. While there were no mangoes in Ohio, where the sisters grew up, their travels in the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Cambodia also contributed research for the book. 'In addition to academic research, our favourite sources of information came from our travel experiences and getting stories from the people we met, taking cooking classes all over the world, attending food festivals, visiting farms, processing plants, and eating!' says writer and culinary historian, Constance. The book, they say, 'explores the properties of mangoes through the lens of the five senses'. Constance explains that while taste is important for enjoying a mango, the other senses play a major role as well, 'including the sight of their beautiful colours, and the smell of a fully ripe mango'. 'There is a component of texture to mangoes as the juices and fibers stimulate those senses. Even the sound of someone sucking on a mango pit evokes the senses,' she says, 'A really good mango should be messy, a full body experience employing all the senses; sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. It is said that you should really eat a mango while naked in a bathtub.' Something Queen Victoria certainly would not approve. The book highlights how the queen, 'a great champion of etiquette and elaborate table manners' expanded the use of cutlery worldwide and a mango fork was designed during the Victorian period. Mango also has references of how the British did not 'savour the sight of Indians squatting on the floor and sucking on mangoes, with the juice flowing down their elbows. They often referred to it as the 'bathroom fruit', and instructed their Indian servants to confine the mess of mango eating to the bathroom.' Elizabeth II, on the other hand, relished the fruit. According to her former chef John Higgins, she 'really enjoyed mangoes, and could tell you how many mangoes were in the fridge at Buckingham Palace', states the book. Of all the facts and interesting finds that the duo discovered during their research, they were most surprised by the 'almost fanatical, universal, and personal attachment that people in countries where the fruit flourishes have for their variety of mangoes'. 'People don't just 'like' their mangoes, they 'love' their mangoes with a devotion unmatched by any other fruit in the US or Europe,' says Mary. Constance believes mangoes are 'sexy'. 'Fittingly, they are the only fruit with a position named after them in the famed love manual, the Kama Sutra,' she adds. The authors also discovered over 50 works of fiction with mango in their titles, and over 20 culinary memoirs and cookbooks, and several children's books with titles of the fruit. Food references aside, the book also looks at the fruit's religious and cultural connotations. For instance, there are many examples of the fruit and the mango tree in the teachings of Buddhism, and how the Buddha has a rounded chin shaped like a mango stone. The traditional South Indian gold bridal necklace, called a 'mango mala', is adorned with mango-shaped stones, representing the wish for a fertile marriage. The well-curated recipe section in the book features a mango menu with mango wine/lassi/tea; starters such as raw mango rasam, aamras; mains like aamchur chicken, Haitian mango chicken; sides like the Vietnamese green mango salad; and desserts including mango float, mango barfi, and more. 'Since our book is a global history, the mango recipes were all taken from historical sources from around the world,' says Constance. The recipe for mango curry, for instance, is taken from food writer Soity Banerjee's conjecture of what a 2000-year-old curry may have been like. 'I experimented with some mango recipes. I took the recipe for aam papad, and substituted American mango babyfood for the pulp and seasoned it with tajin (a Mexican spice blend of chiles, lime and salt) making an accessible, intercultural variation,' says Mary. For the mango chutney, Constance adapted it from a 1930 recipe from Fairchild Botanical Gardens, a mango research centre in Florida. Mango: A Global History is priced at ₹599 and is available on
