HL Deb 22 July 1998 vol 592 cc1002-3

(".—(1) In section 16(5) of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (penalties for failure to comply with reporting duty imposed by restriction order)—

  1. (a) for the words "one month" there shall be substituted the words "six months"; and
  2. (b) for the words "level 3" there shall be substituted the words "level 5".

(2) In section 24(2) (arrestable offences) of the 1984 Act, after paragraph (p) there shall be inserted— (q) an offence under section 16(4) of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (failure to comply with reporting duty imposed by restriction order)."").

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 62.

I wish to speak also to Amendment No. 226, with which this amendment is grouped. As will be well known to your Lordships' House, there are creatures in the world sometimes related to notorious football clubs in the Liverpool area who are football hooligans. These amendments give the police a power of arrest to deal with convicted football hooligans who breach, or try to breach, restriction orders under the Football Spectators Act 1989 designed to prevent them going to matches overseas. The amendments increase the maximum penalty for breaching the order.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 62.—(Lord Williams of Mostyn.)

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns

My Lords, I shall not detain the House long but I could not resist the temptation to speak on a sport about which I know little. We on these Benches support this amendment. My honourable friends in another place felt so strongly about the matter that they tabled a similar amendment and gave up some of their own Opposition time so that the problems of football hooliganism could be fully discussed at Report.

Despite the small number of noble Lords present tonight, I am sure they will all have been dismayed at the appalling behaviour of just a few people among the thousands who attended the World Cup. I hear "noises off" from noble friends who say those people are not Scottish supporters. I must admit I did not carry out any kind of survey of nationality of those people but, as ever, I trust to my noble friends' judgment on that matter. I certainly think the behaviour on that occasion was a far cry from my own experience when my aunt took me to see Arsenal play when I was in my early teens.

Noble Lords

They are rubbish!

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns

No, my Lords, Arsenal have never played rubbish. I object to such imputation, even as regards the second team, which I have also watched. The behaviour I have mentioned is also a far cry from the behaviour of the vast majority of supporters who watch matches. I am sure noble Lords will join me in congratulating the many football clubs which have done so much to make football a safe, family, spectator sport. I welcome the fact that the Government have accepted that there should be a stronger penalty for those who breach restriction orders; one month has proved not to be enough, six months is a more appropriate maximum period. I support the amendment.

On Question, Motion agreed to.