HC Deb 15 March 1984 vol 56 cc494-5
6. Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new plans he has to control football hooligans.

Mr. Mellor

Primary responsibility within the Government for this matter rests with my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibilities for sport, who, in the light of recent incidents in Paris, will be reviewing whether, and if so what, further measures might be appropriate to deal with this problem. We keep in very close touch with my hon. Friend on these matters. I am satisfied that a proper framework of law exists to deal with football hooliganism in this country.

Mr. Bruinvels

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. It is vital that we control football thugs once and for all. Is my hon. Friend aware that I should like to see the introduction of identification cards, on-the-spot fines and the definite and distinct possibility of prison sentences?

Mr. Mellor

The issuing of supporters' cards is being considered by my ministerial colleagues and the liaison group. I warmly endorse the words of Lord Justice Lawton in the Court of Appeal on 12 January, when he said that sentences on football hooligans must deter future violence and that unless there is exceptional mitigation those aged between 17 and 21 who are found guilty of acts of violence against police officers or innocent supporters should receive an immediate custodial sentence.

Mr. Caborn

Will the Minister take up with his colleague, the Minister responsible for sport, the problem of the differential pricing at some of the grounds as between home and away supporters, which has been a major source of concern at some grounds, not only for the public who follow football, but for the police; for example, in a recent incident at the Grimsby ground?

Mr. Mellor

If any differential pricing were to lead to fans of one team not going into their part of the ground that would be a serious matter, as segregation of rival supporters is an important way to minimise the risk of trouble. I shall bring the hon. Gentleman's helpful suggestion before my hon. Friend the Minister.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

As football hooligans and others are known by the police occasionally to conceal knives, drugs and sometimes liquor under their woollen caps, will my hon. Friend be good enough to reconsider the Government's decision to prevent the police from requiring removal of that headgear so that they can conduct searches for those items before trouble starts?

Mr. Mellor

I cannot usefully add to the debate that we had in Standing Committee on this matter. I hope that what my hon. Friend said will not blind the rest of the House to the real powers given to the police in the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill to search for offensive weapons in almost every other part of clothing apart from hats.

Mr. Denis Howell

While the Minister responsible for sport obviously has a role to play in this matter, since when has he been responsible for law and order? Were not this Government elected on a law and order ticket, and has not the problem got progressively worse with every one of the five years that the Government have been in office? Therefore, why did the Minister responsible for sport the other day fatuously call on overseas countries to deal vigorously with our own problem?—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."] This is a very important matter—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Minister can answer only for the Home Office, not for the Minister responsible for sport.

Mr. Howell

That is my point, Mr. Speaker.

I point out again to the Home Secretary, on behalf of the Opposition, our willingness to enter into any discussion to produce new laws or procedures that will stop this disgraceful behaviour by British citizens overseas, who disgrace the name of this country.

Mr. Mellor

On the right hon. Gentleman's first point, I am sure that he, like every other hon. Member, will welcome the news out today that the number of offences known to the police last year was below the figure for 1982—a welcome development. As to the right hon. Gentleman's other point, we do not doubt our responsibility for law and order. I have already made it clear that there is a framework of law that will ensure that hooligans are not merely brought to book but are appropriately sentenced. We have increased the number of attendance centres and brought forward a range of additional penalties to enable courts to deal severely where necessary with this serious problem.