Soccer-related arrests have been increasing in England and Wales, with the U.K. government reporting a rise in incidents, particularly at West Ham matches for the third consecutive year. According to figures released by the Home Office, there were 2,584 football-related arrests during the 2023-24 season, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.
The government attributed the surge in arrests to offenses related to the possession of class A drugs and the staging of the European Championship in Germany. The rate of arrests throughout the season was calculated at 5.5 per 100,000 fans attending matches in the top six levels of men’s English soccer, the Welsh league, and the top two tiers of women’s soccer. This data also encompassed games involving the England and Wales national teams, the Champions League final held at Wembley Stadium, and matches involving various age groups.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the lead for soccer policing in the U.K., emphasized the importance of contextualizing these figures. He acknowledged that while the number of arrests had risen, around 47 million individuals attended men’s domestic and international matches the previous season, underscoring that the majority of football fans are law-abiding supporters of their teams. Roberts noted that collaboration with prosecutors and other partners was crucial to ensuring accountability for those who engage in unlawful behavior.
Interestingly, despite the increasing popularity and attendance at women’s matches, there were no arrests reported at these events. The data also highlighted 281 arrests linked to Euro 2024, with West Ham topping the list of clubs with the highest number of arrests at 103, followed by Manchester City and Manchester United jointly at 88. Arsenal and Chelsea secured the fourth and sixth positions with 85 and 67 arrests, respectively.
Additionally, West Ham led in the tally of banning orders with 93, followed by Manchester United with 89, and second-tier Millwall with 82. Banning orders, which can range from three to 10 years, are issued by courts for various reasons including convictions for soccer-related offenses. The season saw 825 new banning orders, the highest figure since 2010-11.
The majority of arrests were for public disorder, accounting for 43% of cases, with violent disorder comprising 19% and possession of class A drugs making up 13%. Incidents involving the throwing of missiles were the most commonly reported at 416 matches, followed by pyrotechnics at 394 matches. Hate crime incidents were reported in 341 matches, primarily concerning race and sexual orientation issues, while online hate crimes numbered 423 incidents.
