Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Recommendation 10

10 Deferred Paragraph: 53

Consult other major sporting bodies and fan groups on alcohol's role at all events

Recommendation
As part of its review into the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985, we recommend that the Government should consult with representatives of other major sporting bodies and fan groups beyond football to examine the role of alcohol at all major sporting events.
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the inability of police forces to recover the full cost of policing football matches due to the Ipswich ruling and the need for primary legislation, rather than addressing the recommendation to consult on alcohol's role at sporting events.
Paragraph Reference: 53
Government Response Deferred
HM Government Deferred
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.