Lesson 5.2 Sporting events and Legislation.

Question 1

What are “designated sports grounds and events”?

Answer 1

All members of the Scottish Professional Football League, the national team playing at Hampden Park or Murrayfield and teams from Scotland playing abroad in competitions such as the Champions League are included.

Question 2

What is meant by “relevant area”?

Answer 2

Any part of the grounds:-

• To which spectators are granted access on payment; or
• From which the event can be viewed directly (this would cover those grounds and instances when access is permitted without payment)

Question 3

What is meant by “period of designated sporting event”

Answer 3

A period:-
Which commences 2 hours before the start, or advertised start; and
Is concluded 1 hour after the event (this applies to an advertised event even if it is subsequently postponed or cancelled)

Question 4

What is meant by a “controlled container”?

Answer 4

A container of any description which:-

• Is, or was, capable of holding any liquid; and
• Is made from a material which, if the container were to be thrown or propelled at a person, could cause injury to that person.

Exemptions are containers for medical use.

Question 5

What is meant by “controlled article or substance”?

Answer 5

• Any article or substance whose main purpose is the emission of a flare for purposes of illuminating or signalling (as oppose to ignition or heating)
• Or the emission of smoke or a visible gas;
• In particular this includes distress flares, fog signals and pellets and capsules intended to be used as fumigators or for testing pipes
  NOT MATCHES, CIGARETTE LIGHTERS OR HEATERS

+any article that is a firework

Question 6

What is meant by presumption on contents?

Answer 6

Any liquid found in a container whether sealed or open shall be presumed to conform to the description of the liquid on the container.

Therefore we can assume that if a container is stated to contain cider, the liquid is in fact cider.

If an open container was empty or had sufficient liquid to permit analysis, provided the container was sealed when it was sold or supplied, then the presumption still stands.

Question 7

What are common offences in relation to alcohol and containers?

Answer 7

S20(1) AND 20(8) of the act creates an offence for any person to be:-

• Within, or attempt to enter
• the relevant area of a designated sports ground
• during the period of a designated sporting event if they are in possession of:
  1) A controlled container; or
  2) Any alcohol
  3) Any firework or smoke flare etc; or are
  4) Drunk

Question 8

What might the charge be for for activating a pyrotechnic devise at a football match?

Answer 8

Culpable and Reckless Conduct