Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
Paragraph: 30
Ensure passage of the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill this parliamentary session.
Recommendation
The unauthorised entry of ticketless individuals at football matches creates a risk to their safety and the safety of legitimate, paying fans. While such acts are likely already illegal, the lack of a distinct criminal penalty that includes the use of the proven deterrent of Football Banning Orders, is allowing this practice to continue seemingly unchallenged. We welcome the introduction of the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill and recommend that the Government takes all steps possible to ensure its passage during this session of Parliament.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepted the recommendation, confirming it supported the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill at its Second Reading in the House of Commons.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
30
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
12. The government understands that police forces are not able to recover the full cost of policing football matches. Even before the Ipswich ruling1, (which established the scope 1 Ipswich Town FC v Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary (EFL intervening) [2017] EWCA Civ 1484 of policing costs for which football clubs may be charged), the police could only recover a portion of their costs. Cost recovery is governed by the provisions of Section 25 of the Police Act 1996 and as such, a return to pre-Ipswich cost recovery levels would require changes to primary legislation, impacting a number of sectors outside football.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗