Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Deferred
Paragraph: 54
Undertake alcohol sale pilots alongside improved hate crime and antisocial behaviour reporting
Conclusion
The Government’s alcohol sale pilots should be undertaken alongside our recommended improved reporting of hate crime and antisocial behaviour at matches to ensure that the impacts are fully understood before any further decisions are taken on alcohol sales. It should take note of the reduced risk of alcohol-related disorder at events with smaller crowds such as non-League football matches.
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the inability of police forces to recover the full cost of policing football matches and the legislative changes required for full cost recovery, which does not address the committee's conclusion about alcohol sale pilots, improved reporting, or the risks at smaller events.
Paragraph Reference:
54
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.