Football-related arrests in England and Wales reach nine-year high - Home Office
- Published
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was kicked in the back by a Tottenham fan at the end of the north London derby in January
The number of arrests at football matches in England and Wales has reached a nine-year high, according to Home Office figures.
There were 2,264 football-related arrests during 2022-23, the highest number since 2013-14 and an increase of 66 on the previous season.
Arrests at women's matches, arrests made in England and Wales relating to overseas matches, and arrests for possession of Class A drugs are included in the figures for the first time.
The possession of Class A drugs added 200 arrests during the 2022-23 season, while there were 101 arrests in England and Wales relating to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
No arrests were made in connection with this summer's Women's World Cup.
There were 682 new football banning orders issued last season, which is an increase of 32% compared to the 2021-22 campaign, and the highest number issued since 960 in the 2010-11 season.
Of the 1,624 football banning orders in force on 1 August 2023, 1,618 were issued to men, and 1,133 to those aged between 18 and 34.
Manchester United supporters have the most banning orders in place with 69, while Millwall are second on 66.
West Ham had the highest number (89) of supporters arrested, which is the most for the second consecutive year.
The Hammers maintain they have improved and robust systems in place on matchdays and say their pro-active tactics correlate with an increased number of bans for certain offences.
But the Home Office also said, external the number of matches with reported incidents decreased by 6% (-93 matches) compared with 1,609 matches in the 2021-22 season.
"It is so important for our communities that fans can go to watch their club play without fear for their safety," Home Secretary Suella Braverman said.
"With more people banned from football for their criminal acts and illegal drug taking being tackled, we will continue to make football safer for supporters up and down the country."
The Football Supporters' Association (FSA) said the sport was a "safe, enjoyable environment that millions of supporters enjoy without any problem every season".
"Last season reported incidents were down by 6%, while disorder is at its lowest level since 2016-17, and things are now calming down a little after a post-Covid blip that affected the whole of society," FSA chief executive Kevin Miles said.
"We fully expected a rise in Football Banning Orders (FBO) as, for the first time, courts are now allowed to issue them to otherwise non-violent offenders who were caught with Class A drugs.
"Because of this change in data gathering FBOs have increased even as the levels of reported incidents have fallen.
"Overall arrests are lower than they were 10 years ago. The low arrest rates compare favourably to many other large events."
Chelsea fans give BBC Sport their views on football disorder as arrests at matches in England and Wales reach nine-year high
Football banning orders are court orders which stop people attending matches and are usually applied when someone has been convicted of a football-related offence.
They can also prevent people from being in certain areas before and after matches.
The number of arrests for pitch invasions fell from 313 to 147.
While the number of arrests is the highest in nine years, it is not a new high overall, as initially reported. There were nine more arrests in 2013-14 than in 2022-23 and a total of 3,089 football-related arrests in 2010-11.
Some of the high-profile incidents during the 2022-23 campaign included a Tottenham fan being given a four-year football banning order for kicking Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after the Gunners' north London derby win over Spurs in January.
The same month a 15-year-old girl was scarred for life when she was struck on the head with a pint glass filled with coins during Manchester City's Carabao Cup tie with Liverpool.
A Leeds United fan who ran on to confront Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe at Elland Road in May was jailed for three months and banned from all games for six years.
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