Transport police plan for football fixtures over festive season

Christmas brings with it a busy period of football fixtures with fans travelling up and down the country to watch their teams – usually on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

This year is no different and BTP in the North West – which has responsibility for policing more premier league teams than any other region – is preparing for an extremely busy two weeks.

Inspector Lorna McEwan, who plans BTP’s North West football operations, said: “Christmas is always a busy period where football is concerned and fans are always in high spirits as the festive season mixes with the usual excitement of watching matches.

“Of course, what starts out as a fun day can turn sour if teams lose and fans who have become frustrated with the performance of their heroes can often, particularly if alcohol has been consumed, become rowdy and unruly – as can those supporters who are a little too euphoric after a good performance.

“We totally understand how the highs and lows of supporting a football team can have an a effect, but we simply cannot allow this to spill over into behaviour which causes problems for other rail passengers or staff.”

BTP will not tolerate any violent or anti-social behaviour on the railway and, when this behaviour is linked to football, will seek the strictest possible sanctions against those causing trouble.

This could result in people being put before the courts and possibly facing a associated football banning order.

Inspector McEwan added: “We have successfully applied for several banning orders in recent months and will not hesitate to ask the courts to stop people going to football matches and travelling on the rail network on match days.

“These orders, which are supported by the majority of clubs, have seen fans banned from all organised football matches for up to three years meaning one moment of stupidity becomes very costly.

“Of course, the majority of football fans are extremely well behaved and are a credit to their clubs, and this action is as much about protecting them and their reputation as it is about keeping others safe on the rail network.

“We will never completely stamp out anti-social behaviour but, by working together, BTP, train companies and football fans can take decisive action to greatly reduce many of the problems we face.”