How and when and why football clubs have to pay for policing is laid out in new ACPO guidance.
Cost recovery has long been a touchy subject between police forces and football clubs, though in recent years many more games are stewarded even in the Premiership without police at the ground. Questions include whether clubs should have to pay for policing of car parks beyond the stadium.
The need for such a guide arose from the legal action between Wigan Athletic and Greater Manchester Police. Wigan rose through the divisions to the Premier League; its charges for policing by GMP did not.
According to the document: “No agreement was reached and although policing was provided at a higher level and at increased cost, Wigan continued to pay only for policing at the levels provided in previous seasons. After two seasons the Chief Constable sought recovery of the unpaid balance of the cost of the policing actually provided, claiming that such policing constituted special policing services within the meaning of the Police Act 1996 [the law that governs police having to be paid for ‘special policing services’].”
The Association of Chief Police Officers document offers a standard ‘statement of intent’ for a club and police force to agree.
For the full 29-page document visit the ACPO website –
