THE number of people arrested for football-related disorder fell to a record low last season, new figures show.
But Newcastle is still the third worst in the Premier League with 98 banning orders.
A total of 3,089 English and Welsh fans were arrested at international and domestic games in 2010/11, down 302 from the previous season – the lowest level since records began in 1984/5.
There were no arrests at 70% of games and 92% of those whose football banning orders have expired since 2000 were assessed by police as no longer posing a risk of football disorder.
Crime Prevention Minister Lord Henley said: “Football policing is a real British success story. Where hooliganism was once described as the English disease, we now set an example for others to follow.”
The number of football banning orders in place in November also fell, down to 3,173 from 3,248 last year.
These included 105 against Chelsea fans – 10% of all the banning orders in the Premier League and the most of any team at that level – 101 against Manchester United fans and 98 against Newcastle United supporters.
Magpie fans were handed 17 banning orders last season alone. Sunderland have a total of 53 banning orders, 25 handed out last season.
Chief Supt Dave Pryer, head of Northumbria Police’s operations command, said: “People in the North East are passionate about football and turn out in their thousands to support Newcastle and Sunderland every week. The vast majority of fans are well-behaved and act responsibly both before, during and after matches.
“However, there are a small minority of people for whom football is an opportunity for criminal behaviour. Northumbria Police works to proactively identify people involved in this type of behaviour. Where it is proportionate we use relevant legislation to prevent them from attending games.
“This allows the well-meaning vast majority of genuine football fans to attend matches without fear of disorder.
“We also work closely with football clubs, local authorities and other partner organisations to ensure people attending football matches can do so in comfort and safety. Every match is risk assessed and approached with the same aims – to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for fans and ensuring those intent on causing trouble are prevented from doing so.
“As a force we successfully use banning orders as they mean we can put tight restrictions on the movements of known risk supporters, preventing them from attending fixtures.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) warned that officers would continue to deal with those who seek to bring the game into disrepute.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Holt, Acpo lead on football policing, said: “UK policing has led the way in dealing with football-related violence and disorder and the effectiveness of banning orders has drawn interest from police forces internationally as an effective method of reducing disorder at football matches.”
The latest banning order for a Newcastle fan was given to Mark Trory, of Walker, Newcastle.
Last week Newcastle magistrates banned him from attending football matches for three years after hearing about his string of trouble-making at four matches.
Among Sunderland’s bans was Ross Miller, of Tangmere, Spennymoor, County Durham, who was given a banning order after confronting Newcastle goalie Steve Harper during a Wear-Tyne derby.
The 17-year-old was banned from future games after he knocked the Magpies goalkeeper to the ground after Sunderland’s injury-time equaliser at the Stadium of Light in January.
There are a small minority for whom football is an opportunity for criminal behaviour
