Academic to lead working group to help create legal definition of sectarianism

A top academic has been appointed to lead a working group to create a legal definition of sectarianism in a bid to help police and prosecutors tackle the problem.

Professor Duncan Morrow will chair an independent working group looking at the scope for a legal definition, community safety minister Annabelle Ewing has announced.

The move, recommended by Holyrood’s Justice committee, will potentially make it easier for police and prosecutors to tackle sectarian behaviour.

Professor Morrow was previously the chairman of the Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland.

Ms Ewing also announced more than £500,000 of funding for anti-sectarianism work, including teacher and youth work training.