BT Police has called on football fans using trains and stations to act responsibly during the coming season after a 10 per cent increase in football related incidents last season across England, Wales and Scotland. 

A total of 337 incidents were related to alcohol – up from 305 the previous year.
Alan Pacey, BTP’s assistant chief constable, operations, said that, for the eighth season running, football related arrests increased – from 567 to 601  – and 122 football banning orders were secured, with many cases still pending.

“There were 25 police officers assaulted, the highest number ever recorded, but we did get a better grip on organised hooligan elements through increased use of football banning orders on known trouble-makers,” he said.

A forum bringing together key rail industry groups, the FA, the Football League and Premier League, supporters associations and BTP has been set up to work through issues of concern and ensure the forthcoming season is a success.

“We would appeal to fans ahead of the new football season not to over indulge in alcohol and remind those coming into London to adhere to the ban on consumption of alcohol on the Tube, along with any other ‘dry train’ restrictions,” said Mr Pacey.

Last November, a series of operations took place across the country during which 33 people were arrested, 14 in dawn raids across south Lon-don, Sussex and Kent.

As a result, 10 men convicted of disorderly behaviour and random attacks on passengers on a train at Sydenham, south London, carrying Charlton Athletic football supporters, were jailed for between two and three years and handed banning orders from the rail network and Underground.

Ten men were given banning orders following disorder on a train between Wrexham and Chester, four men convicted of affray on Teesside and eight people convicted of disorder offences at Tamebridge Parkway station, West Midlands.

BTP assistant chief constable Stephen Thomas, the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on football related matters, explained concerns that allocation of resources to football policing is expensive in terms of cost and manpower and must be balanced against other demands.

“We will continue to work closely with the football industry and government, providing an appropriate police response to football travel and to discuss how to help further reduce costs to police forces,” he said.