Police Scotland has come under fire after spending millions on a football-only crime unit.
The Football Coordination Unit Scotland (FoCUS) was set-up by Strathclyde Police in 2011 on the recommendation of football clubs, politicians and law enforcement agencies.
It has now emerged that the unit has spent more than £2.1m over the last three operational years.
FoCUS, which this year has 15 police officers and a budget of £709,120, has been controversial amongst football fans for its involvement in policing fans through the Offensive Behaviour Act.
Scottish Labour MSP James Kelly, who is putting forward a Bill to repeal the Offensive Behaviour Act, called the budget of the unit "baffling".
Kelly said: "At a time of civilian staff cuts and falling number of police offices it is baffling that Police Scotland has spent £2m in recent years on a unit to monitor football fans. There are real questions as to whether this is the best use of resources.
"Of course the police should be able to tackle unacceptable behaviour at football matches but at a time when the force is feeling the effect of SNP cuts this is the wrong priority - but it is a priority our police have been forced into because of the SNP Football Act and their backwards approach to tackling sectarianism."
Police Scotland, however, defended the budget of the 15-officer group saying 96 per cent of its operational budget is on the officer's salaries .
Chief Superintendent Nelson Telfer, of the force's operational support division, said: "The strategic objective of the FoCUS is to provide a consistent approach to policing football with a view to eradicating violence, disorder and hatred from the game to ensure it is a safe and enjoyable experience for those attending.
"The unit, along with every other Police Scotland officer, deals with all strands of hate crime equitably across all parts of the country and should not be viewed simply as an 'anti-sectarian' unit."
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