Crimes of Violence: Football
Home Department

Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to reduce violence by spectators at football matches.

Alan Campbell (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Tynemouth, Labour)

Serious violence at football matches is now extremely rare compared to the period between 1970 and 2000. On average there is just one arrest in connection with football matches played in England and Wales; and that covers arrests at any place within 24 hours either side of a match.

The English and Welsh football strategy for minimising football safety and security risks introduced after Euro 2000 has proven to be very successful. The strategy is based upon effective partnerships between Government, police, football authorities and supporter groups and on the concept of isolating risk fans whilst empowering the overwhelming majority of fans to take responsibility for their actions and self-police.

The football banning order arrangements introduced in 2000 continue to be a highly effective cornerstone of the strategy and an important means for excluding known risk fans and deterring misbehaviour amongst the rest. The orders have proven to be a highly successful rehabilitative measure with around 94 per cent. of individuals whose orders have expired being assessed by police as no longer posing a risk of football disorder.

The strategy is now universally recognised as the best in the world and is being replicated around the globe. However, there can and will be no complacency.