Racist Chanting Declines & Arrests Including QPR

[QPR Report]

-
BBC Tuesday, 25 November 2008

Racist football chanting drops By Dominic Casciani
BBC News home affairs reporter

Arrests for racist chanting dropped to 23 by May 2008
Arrests at football matches for racist chanting have fallen to the lowest recorded level in England and Wales.

Police figures show there were 23 arrests for racism at games during all domestic and international matches in the 2007-08 season.

Overall, police arrested 3,842 fans for all offences, a rise of 3% amid a tougher police stance.

Attendances rose to 37 million during the year and police did not need to act at almost seven out of 10 matches.

The figures show that arrests for racist chanting dropped from 43 in the 2006-07 season to 23 by May 2008. Nine of these arrests were at Premiership matches. There were five arrests in the Championship, seven in League One, two in League Two - and none in the Conference.

RACIST CHANT ARRESTS, BY CLUB
Chelsea: 3
Spurs: 3
Man Utd: 1
Newcastle Utd: 1
Wigan Ath: 1
Premiership total: 9
All football: 23
Source: Home Office

Overall, police made 109 more arrests - but the Home Office annual report into football violence attributes this to a "lower police tolerance threshold" at some matches.

Most arrests were for drink-related offences and public disorder. Less than 10% of arrests were for violence.

Arrests also cover relatively minor incidents, such as refusing to sit down when asked, causing an obstruction which could affect safety, pitch invasions and ticket-touting.

The total number of people arrested was equal to 0.01% of all spectators, continuing a downward trend in football crime.

The total number of football banning orders decreased by 1% over the year, with 3,172 people subject to restrictions to prevent them travelling to games or locations near to stadiums where they have previously caused trouble.

Portsmouth had the most Premiership fans subject to banning orders - 91 - and Fulham the least with five. Leeds United saw the highest number of new orders imposed during the season - 66.

The Home Office says that 94% of hooligans subjected to a ban since 2000 have been later assessed by the police as posing no further risk.

Figures also show that 120,000 fans travelled to overseas Champions League and UEFA Cup matches during the season. A total of 25 fans were arrested - one for violent disorder

[QPR Report]

And from The Home Office

Crime and victimsFootball disorder
Football disorder, or hooliganism, is less common today than it once was, but when it does happen it’s a serious threat to the safety of other fans and the general public.

Taking responsibility
Of the millions who annually attend football games, only a very small minority actually cause problems. Even so, their behaviour is a threat to public safety and to the UK’s reputation overseas and, as such, we are committed to stamping it out.

Foul play
Football hooliganism is a crime. It may be less common than it once was, but it remains a serious menace.

Football disorder has unfortunately been associated with English football for over 100 years. But its severity and character is always evolving. Today, there is little trouble in football grounds themselves and fans can attend matches in a safe environment.

But the gangs who associate themselves with clubs do still pose a threat, usually in the form of pre-arranged violence.

Teamwork
We have a comprehensive strategy for tackling football disorder. Its main features are:

extensive use of the tough football banning order legislation introduced after Euro 2000
close and effective relations with partner agencies, including the police, football authorities and supporter groups
maximum cooperation with overseas police and civil authorities
close contact with fan groups, support for fan-led initiatives like the fans embassies and working to encourage fans to take responsibility for their behaviour and reputation
We have put in place very tough but fair laws that we expect the police and courts to use and are funding targeted police operations aimed at banning known hooligans.

Banning orders and arrests
The purpose of football banning orders is to prevent known football hooligans from causing further trouble at home and abroad. Bans last between 2 and 10 years, and the precise conditions can be tailored on a case-by-case basis.

If necessary, the courts can ban recipients from using public transport on match days, and from visiting other potential ‘hotspots’, such as town centres, pubs and bars during risk periods.

Statistics on arrests and banning orders
Each autumn we publish statistics on the number of arrests and banning orders issued during the previous football season. Below are links to the last five season’s stats:

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0708

Facts & figures
More than 37m people attended games in 2007-08
3,842 people were arrested for disorder connected to matches
Of those arrests, 373 were for violent crimes, an increase of 33 over the previous season
on average, 67% of matches were problem free, and resulted in no arrests
60% of football-related arrests took place outside or away from the grounds
3,172 known troublemakers were subject to football banning orders in 2007-08
arrests for racist chanting were down 47% to just 23 - the lowest on record

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/football-disorder/

[QPR Report]

And III: STATISTICS ON FOOTBALLRELATED
ARRESTS & BANNING
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/football-arrests-0708?view=Binary

Table shows the number of banning orders imposed against risk supporters between 9 th August 2007 (the date of the table in the 2006/7
Season published statistics) and 30 th October 2008 (total 1,048) - QPR 5 Banning Orders


Arrests
2007/2008 - League Cup Total 2006/07
QPR 30 21 51 34

[QPR Report]

ARRESTS BY CLUB SUPPORTED & TYPE OF OFFENCE – CHAMPIONSHIP 2007/8 SEASON TABLE 14 - FOR QPR

Total Arrests 51
Arrests at Home Matches 20
Arrests at Away Matches 31
Violent Disorder 8
Public Disorder 22
Missile Throwing 22
Racist chanting 0
Pitch Incursion 6
Alcohol Offences 9
Ticket Touting 0
Offences Against Property 5
Possession of Offensive Weapon 1
Breach of Banning Order 0
Other FootballRelated 0

[QPR Report]

FOOTBALLRELATED
ARRESTS AND BANNING ORDERS SEASON 20078
Statistical Highlights
Total attendances at football matches in England and Wales increased by 1% to more than 37 million.
During the period of the 20072008
season, the total number of people arrested in connection with all international and domestic football
matches involving teams from England and Wales was 3,842. This represents a small increase of 109 arrests primarily due to lower police
tolerance threshold in some areas.
This covers all arrests designated in law under schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (as amended). This includes football specific
offences (e.g. throwing missiles in a stadium, pitch encroachment) and a wide range of generic criminal offences committed in connection with
a football match. This is any arrest at any place within a period of 24 hours either side of a match.
The total number of arrests represents just 0.01% of all spectators. The last 4 years have seen the lowest number of footballrelated
arrests
since records begun. This trend is continuing, but there is no complacency.
Of the 3,842 arrests, just 373 were for offences of violence – this is an increase of 33 persons on the previous season.
40.5% of the 3,842 arrests were for offences committed inside football stadia; 59.5% were for offences committed elsewhere.
During the season an average of 1.21 arrests were made per match (inside and outside of stadia).
One arrest or less was made at 78% of matches. No arrests at 67% of all matches.
Arrests for racist chanting were down 47% to just 23 the
lowest level on record. Arrests for missile throwing down 23% to 67.
41% of all matches were police free – continuing to free police resources to deal with local police and community priorities.
In excess of 120,000 English club fans travelled to Champions League and UEFA Cup matches abroad – this resulted in just 25 arrests of
which just 1 was for violent disorder.
The number of football banning orders decreased by 1%, down to 3,172 on 30 th October 2008 from 3,203 on 9 th August 2007. This represents
1,048 new banning orders imposed during the period. Orders are time limited and expiring all the time.
Banning orders work – since 2000, 94% of individuals whose orders have expired are assessed by police as no longer posing a risk of football disorder.


STATISTICS ON FOOTBALLRELATED
ARRESTS & BANNING ORDERS 20078
SEASON
During the football season police Football Intelligence Officers submit a range of data, including arrest information, to the Football Banning Orders Authority
(FBOA). FBOA also administer all football banning orders. The Home Office collate and publish footballrelated
arrest and banning order data annually.
Statistical Index
Table 1 Total
Football Banning Orders as at 30 th October 2008, broken down by club supported
Table 2 Football
Banning Orders imposed in this reporting period (09/08/0730/
10/08), broken down by club supported
Table 3 Arrests
at International Matches and comparison with 20067
season
Table 4 Arrests
at European Club Competition Matches and comparison with 20067
season
Table 5 Trend
in FootballRelated
Arrests and Attendances in England and Wales since enactment of the Football (Disorder) Act 2000
Table 6 Arrests
and Attendances for all competitions season 20078
Table 7 Arrests
by location (inside / outside of stadia)
Table 8 Trend
in the location of arrests
Table 9 Arrests
by type of footballrelated
offence and comparison with 20067
season
Table 10 Arrests
by competition and comparison with 20067
season
Table 11 Arrests
by club supported (Premier League and Championship) and comparison with 20067
season
Table 12 Arrests
by club supported (League One and Two) and comparison with 20067
season
Table 13 Arrests
by club supported, location of arrest and type of offence for matches involving Premier League clubs
Table 14 Arrests
by club supported, location of arrest and type of offence for matches involving Championship clubs
Table 15 Arrests
by club supported, location of arrest and type of offence for matches involving League One clubs
Table 16 Arrests
by club supported, location of arrest and type of offence for matches involving League Two clubs
Table 17 Arrests
by club supported, location of arrest and type of offence for matches involving Football Conference National Division clubs

[QPR Report]

Football League: - CLUBS AND FANS PRAISED BY MINISTER

Police officers, clubs and fans were praised by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker yesterday for tackling football-related violence last season.

The 'Statistics on Football-Related Arrests and Banning Orders' Season 2007-08', published today, reveal there were 3,842 arrests last season at all international and domestic games, with no arrests at 67 per cent of matches.

The new figures mean just 0.01 per cent of 37m supporters attending matches in England and Wales in the last year were arrested for football-related violence.

As Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City fans head to the continent this week for the next round of matches in Europe, the report also showed that only 25 arrests were made last year of the 120,000 fans travelling away to see their teams in the Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions.

The latest statistics reveal that during the 2007/08 season:
• 3,842 arrests made for football-related offences at domestic and international matches in England and Wales;
• there were 1.21 arrests per game;
• the number of football banning orders on 30 October was 3,172 - representing 1,048 new orders imposed last year;
• 94 per cent of individuals whose banning orders have expired are assessed by police as no longer posing a risk to football disorder; and
• arrests for racist chanting were down 43 per cent to 23, the lowest level on record.

Vernon Coaker said:

"Football violence and disorder has no place in the modern game and we are determined to crack down on those who attempt to ruin the sport for the vast majority of genuine fans.

"I am delighted that the police, the clubs and the fans are working together to help clampdown on football violence in and out of the grounds. Football banning orders have proved to be a great success - 94 per cent of individuals whose banning order has expired have been assessed by police as no longer posing a risk of football disorder.

"Great progress has been achieved and we remain committed to preventing violence and criminality spoiling the sport. However we are not complacent and continue to work very closely with police, football authorities and supporter groups to co-ordinate a sophisticated multi agency strategy to manage football disorder."

www.football-league.co.uk/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10794~1466217,00.html