A charity founded by a former Scotswoman of the year has given an award to cops for challenging sectarianism.

Nil by Mouth, which was set up by the 52nd Evening Times SWOTY Cara Henderson, has recognised the work of police in Lanarkshire who are standing up to sectarianism raising awareness of the issue in its communities.

The Lanarkshire division is the first recipients within Police Scotland to receive the Champions for Change Award which recognises the efforts of organisations who tackle bigotry and demonstrate that it has no place in Scotland.

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Their award was given because of the number activities they have been carrying out to tackle the issue.

Officers have actively been engaging with licensed premises in the area to promote the issue as unacceptable and encourage them to join the campaign against sectarianism.

Every new officer joining the division, as well as all Police Scotland Youth Volunteers, receives an input about challenging sectarianism and the force’s zero-tolerance approach to hate crime as well as the preventative, educational work that is underway to tackle the issue.

Officers have also been working with Nil by Mouth to organise joint workshops in local schools to ensure young people are properly educated about the effects of sectarianism and make the right choice not to engage in this type of behaviour, whether in person or online.

Last month, the Lanarkshire Division, supported by Nil by Mouth, the SFA and NL Leisure, organised the inaugural ‘Kiss Bigotry Goodbye’ football festival which saw both catholic and non-denominational schools from across North and South Lanarkshire taking part in a tournament and receiving awareness raising inputs between matches.

The event was a great success, educating young people on the issue of sectarianism as well as breaking down barriers in a fun sporting environment.

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Chief Superintendent Roddy Irvine said: 'I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of Lanarkshire Division.

“Since taking over as the local police commander in January,

“I have been wholeheartedly impressed by the innovative partnership approach to challenging sectarianism that has been forged between my officers and Nil by Mouth. Education and awareness raising are the key components in making hate crime a thing of the past.

“Whether by bespoke inputs to our new officers and Police Scotland Youth Volunteers, encouraging young people to pause before they post on social media or through fusing learning and leisure in organising Scotland's inaugural Kiss Bigotry Goodbye football festival, I know that we have lived up to the new status this award confers upon us; a Champion for Change.'”

The charity Nil by Mouth was set by Cara when she was a teenager after she struggled to cope with the murder of her friend Mark Scott.

Celtic fan Mark was targeted for wearing a Celtic scarf as he made his way through Bridgeton after watching his team play at Parkhead in October 1995.

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He was walking on London Road with friends when Rangers fans outside the Windsor Bar shouted abuse at them.

His killer Jason Campbell, who was 21 at the time, then ran up behind Mark and slashed his throat in front of stunned passers-by.

After fleeing and trying to hide out in Greenock, Campbell turned himself in. He was later found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison.