FOI 452883
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 452883
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 19th January 2026. Please find below the response to your request:
I would like to request data relating to recorded incidents at football matches hosted within your force area, for the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
I would be grateful if you could provide:
The number of recorded incidents at football grounds/parks/pitches on match days classified as:
Assault (including common assault and ABH/GBH)
Public order offences
Violent disorder
Any other violence-related offences
I'd also like to please be provided with:
The number of arrests made in connection with semi-pro/amateur football matches in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 (with the figures provided separately for each year)
Where possible, a breakdown of:
How many of the incidents involved players (rather than spectators, for example), and how many involved match officials.
Where the incidents took place and any details of exactly what happened (but only if this is possible)
Reply
|
Table 1: Offences at football grounds/pitches on match days |
||||||
|
Primary Offence Group and Offence Title |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
||||
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
||
|
PUBLIC ORDER OFFENCES |
8 |
12 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
45 |
|
Affray |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
3 |
8 |
|
Breach of non-molestation order |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
11 |
|
Committing or conspiring to commit, an act outraging public decency |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Communicating false information alleging presence of bomb |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Fear or provocation of violence |
2 |
|
1 |
2 |
|
5 |
|
Harassment, alarm or distress (S5 POA) |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
5 |
|
Racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress |
3 |
2 |
|
2 |
3 |
10 |
|
Racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress |
1 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PERSON |
10 |
10 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
40 |
|
Assault or assault by beating of a constable |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Assault with Injury - Assault occasioning actual bodily harm |
7 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
21 |
|
Assault with Intent to cause Serious Harm - Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Assault without Injury - Common assault and battery |
3 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
14 |
|
Stalking - Pursue course of conduct in breach of Sec 1 (1) which amounts to stalking |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Grand Total |
18 |
22 |
12 |
18 |
15 |
85 |
|
Table 2: Police outcomes |
||||||
|
Police Outcomes |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
||||
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
||
|
PUBLIC ORDER OFFENCES |
8 |
12 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
45 |
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
6 |
|
Type 1A - Charged/Summons - alternate offence. Offender has been charged under the alternate offence rule. |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
Type 12 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Is Too Ill (Physical Or Mental Health) To Prosecute, or confirmed died either before crime reported or before enough evidence to charge |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Type 14 - Evidential Difficulties Victim Based- Suspect Not Identified: Crime Confirmed But The Victim Either Declines Or Unable To Support Further Police Investigation To Identify The Offender |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
5 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
|
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
6 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
|
VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PERSON |
10 |
10 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
40 |
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
|
|
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
|
Type 14 - Evidential Difficulties Victim Based- Suspect Not Identified: Crime Confirmed But The Victim Either Declines Or Unable To Support Further Police Investigation To Identify The Offender |
3 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
5 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
4 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
6 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
17 |
|
Type 20 - Further action resulting from the crime report will be undertaken by another body or agency subject to the victim (or person acting on their behalf) being made aware of the act to be taken |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Pending/under investigation |
|
|
|
|
3 |
3 |
|
Grand Total |
18 |
22 |
12 |
18 |
15 |
85 |
|
Table 3: Offences on match days involving officials and players |
||||||
|
Offences involving officials and players |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
||||
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
||
|
Official |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
|
PUBLIC ORDER OFFENCES |
2 |
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Fear or provocation of violence |
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PERSON |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Assault with Injury - Assault occasioning actual bodily harm |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Player |
6 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
28 |
|
PUBLIC ORDER OFFENCES |
|
1 |
|
3 |
5 |
9 |
|
Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
|
Racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress |
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
Racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PERSON |
6 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
19 |
|
Assault with Injury - Assault occasioning actual bodily harm |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
13 |
|
Assault with Intent to cause Serious Harm - Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Assault without Injury - Common assault and battery |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
5 |
|
Grand Total |
8 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
8 |
32 |