CALLS have been made for the council to rethink its anti-sectarianism strategies after a rise in reports of sectarian graffiti.

Glasgow City Council have come under fire after reports of bigoted graffiti were found to have more than doubled in one year.

A total of 188 incidents were logged to the council in 2016, representing an increase of almost double on the previous year.

With 56 incidents reported between January and March this year, it is feared that 2017 could be the worst year yet for reports of sectarian graffiti.

Data obtained by the Scottish Catholic Observer through a Freedom of Information request revealed the figures.

As previously reported by the Evening Times, vandals have struck in various places across the city including in schools, football stadiums and derelict buildings.

In August last year, police were called to St Aloysius’ College in Garnethill where vandals had spray painted a sectarian message on the walls of the school.

The graffiti featured  anti-Irish slurs.

The following year, a number of buildings in Nelson Mandela Place and Glassford Street were targeted.

Remarks reading ‘Hun c***s’, ‘Hun scum’ and ‘RIP RFC’ appeared in large black letters on several derelict buildings.

In August, the words ‘orange scum’ were spray painted on a wall close to Ibrox stadium.

The rise in graffiti has been linked to a wider trend of religious intolerance in the city.

Anti-sectarian organisation Nil by Mouth campaign director Dave Scott commented: “There’s fewer more pitiful examples of bigotry than daubing sectarian graffiti on public spaces.

“Sadly, we have seen an increase in this over past 12 months as pathetic little people spout their bile in an effort to antagonise others.

“We would be up for talking to the council about tying in with some our community projects to create artwork celebrating difference to make sure visitors know Glasgow is bigger, better and bolder than bigotry.”

A spokesperson for the Catholic Church said: “Religious intolerance, whether verbal or visual, is always unacceptable. This seems to be a further example of the failure of both national and local anti-sectarianism strategies to achieve results.  “It is difficult to see an alternative to a substantial reform of policy in this area.”

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said that they take a “zero tolerance approach” to sectarianism in all its forms, adding: “This type of disgusting anti-social behaviour is unacceptable and the perpetrators should be ashamed. We’d ask anyone with information to contact  police.”