Fall in Football Hooligan Arrests..

[Guest Lottie]

Arrests at football matches have fallen by 10%, while the number of fans banned from games has risen.

Home Office figures show there were 3,982 football-related arrests during the 2003/4 season, compared with 4,413 the previous year.

Home Office Minister Caroline Flint said the statistics were "encouraging", but she warned against complacency.

Over 36 million supporters attended league, cup and international matches last season.

Arrests by club 2003/4

- Portsmouth - 146

-Leeds United - 109

-Manchester United - 108

- Cardiff City - 107

-Sunderland - 93

- Hull City - 90

- Plymouth Argyle - 78

-Tottenham Hotspur - 77

-Nottingham Forest - 73

-Manchester City - 70

-Aston Villa - 70

The vast majority of games are understood to have been trouble-free.

The statistics, covering England and Wales, reveal that banning orders are at an all-time high, with 2,596 people subject to the measures which prevent them from attending domestic and international football matches.

The figure represents an increase of 45% over the 1,794 people who were under banning orders in August 2003.

Portsmouth fans were the worst offenders, with 146 arrests over the season - mostly during some tense south coast derbies with rivals Southampton.

Second on the list were Leeds, with 109 of the club's fans being arrested, while 108 Manchester United fans were also picked up by police.

Ms Flint welcomed the findings.

Our tough legislation and targeted policing operations are proving an effective deterrent to trouble-makers

David Swift

Association of Chief Police Officers

She said: "These statistics paint a very encouraging picture - with a 10% reduction in the number of arrests and an average of just 1.6 arrests per game."

But she added: "Football-related disorder has not gone away - the statistics reflect a lingering, if small, domestic disorder problem and we are not complacent.

"We will continue to ensure maximum use of the banning order legislation by providing ring-fenced funding to the police to proactively target known hooligans."

'Rigorous controls'

Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) spokesman David Swift said: "Rigorous controls and investigations by the police are having a positive effect."

The findings extend to international matches and, Euro 2004 in particular, as well as domestic ones.

The number of arrests of England supporters decreased from 261 to 70 during 2003/04.

There were no arrests or any evidence of anyone subject to a banning order attempting to travel to matches overseas.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The record 45% rise in the number of banning orders last season has made a significant contribution to the fall in arrests.

'Tough legislation'

"Our tough legislation and targeted policing operations are proving an effective deterrent to trouble-makers."

Courts in England and Wales have the power to impose football banning orders on conviction for a football-related offence.

They can also impose such a measure if they are satisfied an individual has previously caused or contributed to violence or disorder at football matches.

Alan Bloore, deputy chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, said: "We are pleased that the statistics show hooliganism appears to be falling, along with related arrests."

In regards to banning orders, he added: "Whilst we were initially against banning orders, they appear to be working.

"We are, however, slightly concerned about situations where these orders are issued without sufficient evidence or a proper appeals procedure, which seems to happen in some cases."

Source

[Talon]

Arrests at football matches have fallen by 10%, while the number of fans banned from games has risen.

And there's the reason right in the first sentence. Unfortunately although this tackles the issue, it doesn't tackle the aspect in the culture that causes it

[AztecInca]

Your right there Talon, to stop all the chaos and destructione, we need to get to the root of the problem and stop it from ever happening!

[Guest Lottie]

Like...banning football completely!

[wunarmdscissor]

no no no.

its good to see hooliganism in english football is receding , it is really bad down there.

up here we have a different kinda violence not really the same as the football casual culture, just sectarianism. ..lovely.

[alis]

im from Portsmouth, didnt know Pompey fans were the most violent till now though!!!

[wunarmdscissor]

i always though itd be millwall

[Talon]

Yeah, I have to agree with Wunarm.

However good it sounds to ban fooball so I never have to see it on TV again, that would destroy to many people's lives. (can you imagine the suicide rate )

There is something primal in the football culture which makes supporters hate of other teams because of religious, territorial etc rivalries, but this is simply an incorporated from problems already exciting in the culture. In England it seems to be based on thuggish racism, and as Wunarm says, in Scotland is based on Christian in-fighting. These are cultural aspects which have to be dealt with, simply banning thugs from matches or banning football, doesn't tackle the issue, just pretend its not there.

Edited October 24, 2004 by Talon S.