HC Deb 06 April 1978 vol 947 cc622-4
12. Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to introduce further measures to combat football hooliganism.

Dr. Summerskill

My right hon. Friend is having a further meeting very shortly with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment, who has responsibility for sport and recreation, and the Chairman of the Football Association, to discuss recent incidents.

Mr. Evans

Does my hon. Friend accept that the call by Sir Harold Thompson, Chairman of the Football Association, at the time of the Millwall-Ipswich riot, for greater Government action to combat hooliganism looks a bit sick now, when the so-called punishment dished out to Millwall is considered? Has not that punishment been reduced to farce by the decision of the Football League to allow Millwall to play its "away-home" game at the end of the season? Is it not time that my hon. Friend called on the football authorities to put their house in order by segregating all supporters, fencing all football grounds and, particularly, banning the sale of alcohol at football grounds?

Dr. Summerskill

My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the police and football and transport authorities as necessary, and the Minister with responsibility for sport and recreation chairs a working party on crowd behaviour. Constant discussions are going on with sporting clubs to see how best to stop this sort of hooliganism.

Mr. Brotherton

Is the Minister aware that this is a problem not basically for football clubs but for the Home Office, the police and law and order? Therefore, will she make sure that the punishment inflicted by magistrates on hooligans is sufficient to meet the crime? Furthermore, does she not agree that it is time that we returned to corporal punishment for the young hooligan?

Dr. Summerskill

The hon. Member must be aware that the Criminal Law Act 1977 raised certain maximum summary fines for those over 17, for young persons and for those under 14. This is a range of penalties to deal with offences associated with football hooliganism. It would be better to see how those penalties affect the situation before considering further measures in the way of penalties.

Mr. Pavitt

Will my hon. Friend take a special look at hooliganism by football crowds en route to a match? In my area, for example, the Cup Final will be held at Wembley on 6th May. Will my hon. Friend discuss with the Secretary of State for Transport ways of easing this problem, which for many of my constituents becomes an annual nightmare?

Dr. Summerskill

Whenever a local match is to take place, police forces locally exchange information with the clubs, with supporters' organisations, and with transport undertakings. This is best achieved by local contacts and consultation in the area where the match is to take place.

Mr. Sims

Does the Minister accept that one of the most effective ways of dealing with these hooligans, many of whom are aged between 17 and 21, would be to deprive them of their liberty and take them out of circulation on Saturday afternoon? Why do the Government turn their faces so firmly against expanding the number of senior attendance centres, of which there are only two at present, with no plans to extend them?

Dr. Summerskill

There are 63 attendance centres in England and Wales. [HON. MEMBERS: "Not senior ones."] I am answering the question in my own way. There are 63 attendance centres in England and Wales covering the major areas of population, and the Government have made additional resources available for the expansion of the system.