Post by QPR Report on Jun 16, 2009 19:59:14 GMT
BBC - Football urged over police costs
Senior police officers have urged football clubs to shoulder more of the cost of policing matches.
Policing games in England and Wales cost £8m a year, officers told MPs, and the contribution from clubs was "inconsistent" with the costs involved.
Clubs should help fund policing of town centres and pubs on match-days as well as inside and outside grounds.
But Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, who has fought police over match costs, said extra charges would be "unfair".
The row comes on the eve of the publication of next season's fixture lists.
'Not fair'
Lower league clubs have warned they may have to put up ticket prices if they have to pay more for policing.
I don't think it is fair we should pay for policemen to stand in the town centre and make sure these supporters behave themselves
Dave Whelan
Some Premier League clubs have been in dispute with local police forces about policing costs on match days.
Wigan took the Greater Manchester Police to court in 2007, claiming they had been overcharged for policing costs and were paying much more than other sides in the region.
Mr Whelan told MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee, who are looking into the issue, that charging clubs for town-centre policing would be unjustified.
Policing fees could kill football - Whelan
"I don't think it is fair we should pay for policemen to stand in the town centre and make sure these supporters behave themselves," he said.
But the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said police were expected to keep order across a wide area and laws should be changed to allow them to charge more.
"The background is that there has been an inconsistency in the way football matches have been policed and the charges for them," said Acpo's Derek Smith.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8104041.stm
Senior police officers have urged football clubs to shoulder more of the cost of policing matches.
Policing games in England and Wales cost £8m a year, officers told MPs, and the contribution from clubs was "inconsistent" with the costs involved.
Clubs should help fund policing of town centres and pubs on match-days as well as inside and outside grounds.
But Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, who has fought police over match costs, said extra charges would be "unfair".
The row comes on the eve of the publication of next season's fixture lists.
'Not fair'
Lower league clubs have warned they may have to put up ticket prices if they have to pay more for policing.
I don't think it is fair we should pay for policemen to stand in the town centre and make sure these supporters behave themselves
Dave Whelan
Some Premier League clubs have been in dispute with local police forces about policing costs on match days.
Wigan took the Greater Manchester Police to court in 2007, claiming they had been overcharged for policing costs and were paying much more than other sides in the region.
Mr Whelan told MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee, who are looking into the issue, that charging clubs for town-centre policing would be unjustified.
Policing fees could kill football - Whelan
"I don't think it is fair we should pay for policemen to stand in the town centre and make sure these supporters behave themselves," he said.
But the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said police were expected to keep order across a wide area and laws should be changed to allow them to charge more.
"The background is that there has been an inconsistency in the way football matches have been policed and the charges for them," said Acpo's Derek Smith.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8104041.stm