HC Deb 18 November 1976 vol 919 cc1548-50
8. Mr. P. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action in consultation with the police authorities to combat the problem of disorder and violence among football supporters.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

I am in touch with chief officers of police about methods of controlling football hooliganism. I also plan to meet representatives of the football organisations, and am keeping in touch with the other Ministers concerned.

Mr. Whitehead

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that in towns such as Derby there is mounting despair at the depredations of hooligans masquerading as football supporters? Will he also bear in mind that, as this is a national problem, it is for him to co-ordinate methods by which it can be tackled? To fine such people amounts that they can pay next day or to send them to prison at public expense is not the whole answer. Will my right hon. Friend enter into consultations with the public transport services and the football clubs to see that these people are deprived of entry into football games and transport to matches, since this would he a more severe penalty for many of them?

Mr. Rees

I agree with much of what my hon. Friend says. I live alongside a football ground. Conditions are bad for people who live in those areas. I have met right hon. and hon. Friends in other Departments who span the responsibilities. I have met the chief constables, and I hope to take further steps early in the new year.

With regard to fines, my hon. Friend has a point and I hope, if all goes well, to increase some of the maximum fines. I hope also to be able to take steps much in line with what my hon. Friend has suggested for different types of sentence.

Mr. Hannam

Does the Home Secretary agree that a large part of the problem is caused by pre-match drinking? What steps is he taking to deal with that part of the problem?

Mr. Rees

I have discussed this matter with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. For a start, there are problems about the rules for having a drink on buses. It is not as easy as I thought when I discussed the matter with my right hon. Friend. For example, a group travelling from the North to south of Birmingham to visit Anne Hathaway's cottage would not be a football crowd. If they stopped off at Aston Villa on the way there would be nothing to prevent them having a drink on board. There are little problems such as that. But we are looking at the whole matter.