Select committee: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Conclusion 12
First Report - Safety at major sporting events
Published 29 Dec 2023
Paragraph 63
Addressed to Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Safety at major sporting events All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The increasing use of Class A drugs at sporting events is something that police and clubs should both be taking more seriously. Although a direct link between drug use and violence has not been proven, widespread drug taking is anti-social and undermines football’s accessibility. We welcome the use of Football Banning Orders for Class A drug related offences, but it is as yet unclear whether they provide an adequate deterrent against drug use, nor do they protect law-abiding fans, particularly families, from exposure to repeated and flagrant drug use.
From: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, First Report - Safety at major sporting events (HC 174), paragraph 63, 29 December 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 8 March 2024 (deadline 29 February 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's report and says it will, "where appropriate", take concrete steps on many of its suggestions, while noting existing measures and in places pointing to the limits of what it can change.
- On police costs for Zone Ex, the government "understands" that forces cannot recover full costs, and says a return to pre-Ipswich levels "would require changes to primary legislation".
- On alcohol controls, it will "continue to keep alcohol controls under review" with the UKFPU, SGSA and The FA, and does not give a timing for a review of the 1985 Act.
- On stewarding, it "welcome[s]" the Committee's emphasis on training and "agree[s]" it is crucial. The Premier League and English Football League have agreed to fund a reform package of c. £1.5 million over three years.
- On Safety Advisory Groups, it points to existing guidance and says the absence of legislation allows flexibility, which it "believes" strikes a balance. It does not commit to updating the 1975 Act.