HC Deb 20 November 1986 vol 105 cc686-7
13. Mr. Fallon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest programme of measures to improve public order at football matches.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Following the improvement last season, which we attribute to the new alcohol control legislation, the introduction of closed-circuit television and the unremitting efforts of the police, with the co-operation of the clubs, the Government remain determined to achieve further progress. The Public Order Act 1986, which has recently received Royal Assent, contains further measures, including the exclusion order scheme, the extension of alcohol controls to minibuses carrying supporters to matches and a new offence of carrying a firework or smoke-bomb at a football match. We have also urged the football authorities to develop and extend membership card schemes.

Mr. Fallon

Is my hon. Friend aware that there has already been violence this season at Middlesbrough, Exeter, Darlington, Torquay and Shrewsbury and that this town centre terrorism will continue as long as away supporters are allowed to roam the country without membership cards? If the Football League will not act, will my hon. Friend legislate?

Mr. Hogg

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's support. He is entirely right to draw the House's attention to the membership schemes. We very much hope that the football industry will move towards that. We would prefer persuasion, but I could not exclude any method of carrying the scheme forward.

Mr. Ashton

Does the Minister agree that the violence occurs outside grounds and that violent people having passes would make no difference whatever? When Leeds United fans have been banned from away games, they have still turned up and the police have asked for them to be admitted because it is easier to keep control of them in the ground. If one takes a pass away from a villain, how does it stop him being a villain?

Mr. Hogg

Nobody has suggested that it would be a panacea, but we think that it is an important step forward and we hope that the football industry will carry it forward.

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