Clubs reject call for full police costs

Aug 13 2008 by Adrian Pearson, Journal

PREMIER league chiefs in the North last night rejected calls for clubs to meet the full cost of policing matches.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has suggested clubs such as Newcastle United and Sunderland could have to cover the cost of extra officers as a way of reducing the demands on police budgets.

Clubs currently only pay for policing inside and directly around their grounds.

But Acpo’s Stephen Thomas, an assistant chief constable in the British Transport Police, said this meant many forces were in effect subsidising football clubs.

He said: “If we have to take officers away from the community to police football, we are not able to recover the cost of that, and that means our normal police budget is being used for that purpose which means we then have to provide a lesser service to the rest of the community.”

The suggestions have been played down by the Premier League, who said it would be unfair for fans to pay for policing both in their ticket price and through their taxes.

Premier League chief spokesman Dan Johnson said clubs rightfully expected those costs to be met through their tax contributions. “The law is quite clear – clubs pay for any policing inside the ground and on immediately adjacent property under their control on matchday,” he said.

“Any other provision deemed necessary is covered by the state – it’s what people pay their taxes for, with the Premier League alone contributing more that £700m a year to the Treasury, let alone the tax take from the 13 million fans who attend Premier League games during the course of a season.

“This long-established principle applies to all individuals and organisations in the UK, from private individuals to shopping centres, pubs and major events like the Notting Hill Carnival.

“Our clubs work well with their local police forces to make sure that the call on their resources is as little as possible.

“They have invested heavily in all-seater stadia, CCTV and stewarding – as a result the numbers of police required to ensure public safety, and therefore the cost, has reduced over the past 15 years.”

His comments were backed by Sunderland AFC, whose chief executive Peter Walker, said: “We wholeheartedly support the Premier League’s comments regarding the issue of police costs for football matches.

“Our club enjoys a positive relationship with Northumbria Police and we work together with them to ensure the effective safety management of matches at the Stadium of Light.”

While the recommendations are not expected to come into force, the suggestion has won some support in the North East.

Northumbria Police did not want to comment on the Acpo claims, but said they support the Mr Thomas’s comments.

Newcastle United did not comment on the Mr Thomas’s suggestions.