FOI 30331
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: HRC0030331/26
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 14th September 2026. Please find below the response to your request:
Please can you provide the official statistics related to the following in your force area:
1 – The number of people who have been formally questioned regarding direct physical or verbal abuse aimed at referees or other match officials in amateur or semi-professional football. In seasons ‘20/’21 through to ‘24/’25.
Please break those figures down, season by season.
2 – The number of people who have been charged with an offence relating to direct physical or verbal abuse aimed at referees or other match officials in amateur or semi-professional football. In seasons ‘20/’21 through to ‘24/’25.
Please break those figures down season by season.
3 – The number of professional referees or match officials in your force area, operating in the top four men’s leagues (Premier League, Championship, Leagues 1 and 2) that have experienced threats at any level which required police action, this includes registering a complaint or concern.
Please provide figures from the ‘20/’21 season through to ‘24/’25.
4 - Where a formal complaint was registered. Has any individual been charged, or has any referee or match official been offered police protection? Please break those figures down season by season starting in ‘20/’21 and ending ‘24/’25 and differentiate between amateur and professional football.
5 – Has any of the above (1,2 or 3) resulted in a successful prosecution – including online abuse aimed at match officials. If so, what are the detailed statistics behind successful or unsuccessful prosecutions.
Also please state how many cases have been referred to a different force area or body to deal with, for example the National Police Football Unit.
Reply
Fen
Fe
|
Calendar Year & Outcome of investigations recorded as "Violence Against the Person" or "Public Order" where the incident summary suggests the victim was a referee/official/linesman |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
|||||||||||
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
||
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
4 |
|
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 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
3 |
|
5 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
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 |
|
2023 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
2024 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
2026 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
|
|
|
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 |
|
Grand Total |
|
|
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
|
18 |
n
Q5. No specific information held. This information will be held by the Courts.