Rise in football-related violence among Lancashire teams' fans (From Blackpool Citizen)

Rise in football-related violence among Lancashire teams' fans

1:22pm Wednesday 26th November 2008

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THE number of Lancashire team's fans arrested for football-related violence increased last season, according to a report.

A total of 151 arrests of supporters of Accrington Stanley, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Burnley, Morecambe and Preston North End were made – a rise of 18 on the previous season's figures.

Meanwhile, 43 Lancashire football fans were given new banning orders, bringing the total number of active banning orders to 112.

Football banning orders are a civil measure, designed to make it easier to stop hooligans attending games without proving criminal behaviour “beyond reasonable doubt”. They can last from two to ten years.

Violence and disorder do not necessarily have to be football-related to lead to a ban and can involve behaviour not a crime under British law.

That behaviour can include stirring up racial hatred, using threatening or abusive words and “displaying abusive or insulting writing” – which could even include a tattoo.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: “Football violence and disorder has no place in the modern game and we are determined to crack down on those who attempt to ruin the sport for the vast majority of genuine fans.”

The number of arrests of supporters of Lancashire teams in the 2007/8 season (2006/7 figures in brackets):

• Blackburn Rovers 48 (21)
• Blackpool 34 (35)
• Burnley 40 (46)
• Preston North End 24 (25)
• Accrington Stanley 2 (4)
• Morecambe 3 (2).

The number of new banning orders imposed on supporters of Lancashire teams from August 9 2007 and October 30 2008:

• Blackburn Rovers 12
• Burnley 11
• Blackpool 11
• Preston North End 7
• Morecambe 2
• Accrington Stanley 0.

Total number of banning orders for Lancashire teams:

• Burnley 41
• Blackpool 27
• Blackburn Rovers 24
• Preston North End 16
• Morecambe 4
• Accrington Stanley 0.

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