The vast majority of fans travelling to and from matches behave responsibly and cause no problems at all. However, there is a small minority that act in an anti-social way and an even smaller minority involved in violence.

 

Our aim is to help fans travel safely to and from games, to ensure that other passengers can also travel in comfort and staff are able to work without being subjected to anti-social or criminal behaviour.

 

Traditionally, the majority of travelling football fans were away supporters. Today, teams draw their support from all over the country with fans travelling long distances to home games. Football clubs and train operators tell us that the number of football and rugby fans using the transport network to travel to matches is increasing.

 

Over five million journeys a year are undertaken on the rail network by football fans alone. In 2008/09 there were just 51 serious football related incidents, down from 63 the previous year.

 

However, there were another 538 reported incidents of anti-social behaviour which impacted on other passengers and rail staff, up from 337 the year before.

 

In the 2008/09 season BTP officers made 838 arrests, the highest to date, up from 601 the previous year.

 

Successful football policing is a pro-active process depending on many factors. Chief amongst them are good intelligence, planning and co-operation between police, train operators, football clubs and supporters.

 

Planning is the key

We regualry meet with the Football Association, clubs,and local police forces to plan activity for individual matches. We have our own central Football Intelligence Unit which includes dedicated officers based around the country.

 

We have developed a 10-point strategy for the robust policing of anti-social and criminal behaviour commited by a small minority of hooligans. This includes:

 

• 1. Building awareness amongst frontline officers of the means at their disposal to combat football violence. This includes knowledge of current trends, changes to legislation etc.

 

• 2. Improving partnerships with rail operators - for example we produce guides for rail managers which keep them updated on how policing football impacts the railways.

 

• 3. A robust prosecution policy. When arrests take place the offender should, where possible, be charged with the most serious offence disclosed. Home office guidelines state that fixed penalty notices should not be used for football related offences

 

• 4. Seeking banning orders for anyone arrested for a football related offence and requesting conditions to prevent them from travelling by rail when matches are being played

 

• 5. Resourcing follow up operations. Where violent incidents occur, for a number of reasons, police cannot always make arrests at the time. There is often evidence from witnesses, spotters and video which can identify violent fans. Following up this evidence will lead to more arrests

 

• 6. Promoting partnerships with local police, football authorities and supporter organisations to develop solutions to any issues or concerns.

 

• 7. Increasing the use of intelligence to target the hardcore hooligans and those who cause disorder. BTP has access to national UK intelligence systems and shares intelligence with other law enforcement agencies.

 

• 8. Offender targeting. The Football Intelligence Unit co-ordinates intelligence gathering against known troublemakers

 

• 9. Enhanced high profile policing of trains and stations

 

• 10. Prevention, reduction and disruption of football related violence through the use of innovative policing methods. These include deployment of specialist officers, general purpose and drugs dogs, Police Support Units, and the recruitment of informants (Covert Human Intelligence Sources)

 

Domestic Fixtures

Football fans are welcome on the rail system. Our aim is to ensure they can travel in safety and that they do not interrupt other passengers using the network. This can involve:

 

• Monitoring – the number of fans, their routes and demeanour are monitored by officers and passed 'up the line' so that officers en-route and at the destination know what to expect. Where problems appear to be developing, an appropriate response can be made.

 

• Escorts - BTP officers regularly escort trains across the country and on the London Underground system.

 

• Liaison – BTP’s role in liaising with train operators is very important. The relationships and trust built up over many years mean that if short notice solutions (strengthening or laying on an extra train for instance) are needed, they can be negotiated quickly. This can be vital in defusing conflct situations and keeping rival fans apart.

 

• Special train services - where possible, BTP encourages rail operators and clubs to provide special train services if large numbers of fans are known to be travelling. This allows stewards to control and monitor fans whilst keeping disruption to the rest of the train service to a minimum.

 

• Dry trains - there are powers under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985 and Bye-law 4 to prevent alcohol being carried or consumed on trains. Alcohol is often a prime cause of trouble. Dry trains are only declared where necessary so as not to inconvenience other passengers or harm the commercial interests of operators.

 

International matches

BTP has been policing international fixtures for many years. Following the start of Eurostar Channel Tunnel services in 1994, the Force maintains direct contacts with Belgian and French police as well as continuing to liaise through the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU).

 

For the 1998 World Cup in France, a ground-breaking agreement was concluded with the French authorities to allow joint policing operations on Eurostar trains between London and Paris. A joint policy on the carrying of alcohol was agreed and successfully implemented with Eurostar Ltd. At the Euro 2000 tournament in Belgium and Holland, with BTP officers policing trains through France to Brussels following an agreement with the Belgian authorities.

 

BTP officers were also deployed in Germany to assist Federal Police colleagues during the 2006 World Cup.

 

A brief history

Between 1984 and the setting up of the Football Intelligence Unit, a part of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) in 1988, BTP took the lead both nationally and internationally in intelligence gathering.

 

Changes in the pattern of football related problems started in the early 1990s. With better policing and stewarding within stadiums, trouble tended to be displaced, often to railway stations and often some time before or after the matches.

 

The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) was launched by the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in November 2005. It brings together various strands of the policing football infrastructure, including the Football Banning Orders Authority, the National Criminal Intelligence Service football intelligence section, UK National Football Information Point and the ACPO policing football support team. BTP has an officer seconded to the UKFPU.