§ 9. Sir B. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the continuing amount of damage caused by soccer hooligans, he will call a conference of police authorities and football organisations with a view to finding a satisfactory way of dealing with these occurrences; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CallaghanTowards the end of the football season the police set in train new measures to deal with hooliganism after matches.
In addition the problems of crowd behaviour at football grounds are being studied by a working party set up at the suggestion of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, which includes representatives of the Football Association and the Football Leagues and of the police service. At present therefore I do not propose to call a conference.
§ Sir B. JannerWill my right hon. Friend acknowledge the excellent manner in which the crowd behaved in the recent match between Leicester City and Manchester City? It might give some encouragement to others to know that when they behave properly it is recognised. Would my right hon. Friend consider the question of attendance centres being utilised to the full extent not only for 1597 juveniles but for older people, so that those who commit such offences can be prevented from going to football matches on Saturdays for many weeks after they have committed an offence?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Long supplementary questions mean fewer Questions.
§ Mr. CallaghanI think that it would be best for us to wait for the report of the working party, which I hope will come very soon.
§ Mr. Tam BoardmanAs the hon. Member who asked the Question represents part of the City of Leicester, will the Home Secretary make it clear that no criticism of such conduct relates to that city, which, as the hon. Gentleman said, showed such sportsmanship in defeat at Wembley on Saturday?
§ Mr. CallaghanI am very glad to hear that there is a football team at Leicester.