Clubs to face rise in policing costs

The bill for policing football matches is to rise by more than 40%, with the possibility of matches being refused safety certificates if clubs do not agree. According to a report in The Times, following a decision agreed in April, but not widely publicized until now, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has called for a “standard scale of charging” across all areas.

Up to now, each football match was charged differently depending on the level of intelligence police officers have about the possibility of trouble between supporters and any history between the two clubs. Costs last year started at £12,333 for a low risk category A game rising to £14,575 for a higher profile category C game. Clubs are billed after every home game and the first bills reflecting the new charges will start arriving after September 1. Extra searches of fans going into grounds this season in the wake of the London bombings will also increase pressures on manpower. Clubs under Merseyside Police’s jurisdiction could be some of the worst affected by the proposals. The cost of policing for Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere Rovers is expected to rise by 43%.

Clubs expressed “serious concern” that the ACPO did not discuss the proposed changes with them and are worried about how large rises in policing costs could impinge, and especially in the Football League.

Wayne Rooney's return to Goodison Park with Manchester United last year meant the cost of policing that game rose to £36,000 and the much-publicized violence there meant extra police coming in for future games between the two clubs. Less than a month ago newly promoted Wigan Athletic settled a bill of nearly £300,000 for policing costs with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) after a long-running dispute.