Who pays to police football games?

By Dickon Hooper
BBC News

The cost of policing football and rugby games in the West Country varies dramatically, the BBC has learned.

Police and clubs decide together on the level of policing needed

And after a recent landmark court ruling, they could be set to go up - with supporters perhaps left to foot the bill.

Proof, if ever it were needed, that rugby is a thug's game played by gentlemen, comes with the knowledge that Bath and Bristol rugby clubs had no police presence inside their grounds last season.

They both paid nothing to the boys in blue, although Gloucester RFC paid more than £5,500

Compare this to football in the region, where the costs regularly run into tens of thousands of pounds.

The police have historically only charged for "special services" - that is, a police presence inside a club's grounds.

These are worked out at the start of each season when games are graded according to intelligence.

The cost of consequential policing - outside the ground - has traditionally been swallowed by police forces, and passed on to the taxpayer - be they football fans or not.

LAST SEASON'S COSTS £163,000 to police Bristol City's home fixtures (The club contributed £95,800) £98,000 to police Bristol Rover's home fixtures (The club contributed £30,000) Cheltenham Town FC paid £31,000 for police services Swindon Town FC paid £18,000 Yeovil Town FC: thought to have paid £13,000

But this could all be about to change.

Greater Manchester Police recently won a complicated court battle against Wigan Athletic over costs, which could open the door to police forces charging for their services outside stadiums.

This is known as full cost recovery, and has been a thorny issue for football clubs for years.

The force is supported in its line by the Association of Chief Police Officers, and other constabularies, which said the ruling was in line with its guidelines.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: "We feel that the council tax payers of Gloucestershire should not subsidise commercial and sporting events, which do not form part of its statutory duty.

"Therefore we support full cost recovery in the interests of residents."

However, some police officers accept the wider view put forward by the clubs themselves - who have vowed to resist full cost recovery.

They argue that games are parts of the economic life of towns and cities, and that many smaller clubs could be badly affected if they had to pay more.

'Bigger issue'

Colin Sexstone, chief executive of Bristol City FC, said: "We cannot accept responsibility for what happens outside our property.

"This is no different to pubs and clubs in town. It is a bigger issue that goes beyond football."

Clubs across the West also said they were working towards having as many games as possible with no police presence, perhaps boosting steward numbers where appropriate.

But unless something changes dramatically, the policing of the so-called beautiful game will continue to be subsidised by the taxpayer - be they football fans or not.