Extra police officers will be drafted in across Scotland to cope with an anticipated rise in domestic violence after the Old Firm clash.

 

Chief Superintendent Andy Bates revealed the force was preparing for an increase in attacks this weekend and said they had to prepare for possible extra victims.

Celtic and Rangers meet in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden Park on Sunday, renewing a rivalry which has been suspended on the pitch since April 2012.

The day before, a hotly contested match between rivals Aberdeen and Dundee also takes place at Hampden.

Chief Supt Bates, 51, said there had been spikes in domestic violence following football 'on occasions' in the past.

He said: "We will have additional officers who will be dealing with that. There are plans in place across the country.

"There may be more victims and we need to provide support."

He said the extra officers would be "proportionate to the threat."

"There are not going to be 100 officers on the street in every part of the country," he said.

"We did a Christmas domestic violence campaign visiting known offenders. It's an extension of that. Providing support to victims and targeting offenders."

The Christmas campaign saw 650 extra officers drafted in across Scotland, with specialist officers drawing up a hit-list of abusive men they believed posed a threat.

During the weekend, which will see thousands of fans converging on the city from across the UK, there will be extra officers providing a "very visible" presence on Glasgow's streets.

Chief Supt Bates declined to say how many officers were involved in the operation but admitted they were being drafted in from other parts of Scotland.

He added: "The policing arrangements are broadly similar to any big sporting game or event in Glasgow.

"The Scotland and England game in November was the last big, big game and the policing arrangements are almost identical.

"We always anticipate there could be trouble. There's the potential there."

Chief Supt Bates, who has been in charge of 12 Old Firm games and policed several more, said they were aware of suggestions online about groups travelling from other parts of the UK with the intention of causing trouble.

He said: "We are monitoring that. We want to prevent disorder in the first place.

"We have had an operation to identify potential troublemakers and disrupt any plans they might have.

"We are all ready for it. We've been planning for it since the draw was announced."

It was revealed yesterday how officers were scouring social media and fans forums but Chief Supt Bates said they had not made any arrests ahead of the game as a result.

He also revealed he had spoken to the managers and players about their conduct on the day.

He added: "Any action by a player on the pitch can cause a reaction in the crowd.

"And we emphasised how important it is they don't react to goading from the crowd."

He denied suggestions that a list of sectarian songs had been drawn up for officers to be aware of.

Chief Supt Bates said: "We have songs which are clearly offensive, they have swearing or racist or sectarian words. Others are in support of terrorist organisations. That's the things we are looking at.

"Police Scotland would never produce a hit list of songs. Some may be un-offensive and then words are put in them."

He said religious gestures - such as performing the sign of the cross - were not an offence and he had not mentioned them to the players.

Sunday's game will be the first Old Firm clash since new legislation governing sectarianism came into force. The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 was introduced by the SNP but has prompted protests from fans, particularly those supporting the Old Firm clubs. A Sheriff described the act as "mince".

Chief Supt Bates denied the game would be 'the first real' test of the law. He said: "It gets tested every week.

"It's not about legislation. It's a game of football between two teams.

"People should be able to go along and enjoy themselves responsibly."

"There are not hundreds of people wanting to cause trouble, it's a small minority.

"It's much easier to nip things in the bud than deal with the aftermath."