§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the police to seek restriction orders to be placed on any British citizen(a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted of any offence before, during or after the recent England v. Ireland football match in Dublin.
§ Mr. MacleanUnder the terms of section 22 of the Football Spectators Act 1989, courts in England and Wales may impose restriction orders on persons convicted of a football-related offence abroad, providing that there exists a bilateral agreement with the country concerned. There is no such agreement with the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, columns 329–30, what information has been provided as to why the second person subject to a restriction order did not comply with the restriction order on the day of the recent England v. Ireland match; and what action is being taken against the person concerned.
§ Mr. MacleanThe restriction orders authority is not yet in a position to confirm whether the second person subject to a restriction order breached the terms of that order. As indicated on 23 February, column330, where an order is breached it is an operational matter for the police, and ultimately for the courts, to take action. It is not a matter in which Ministers can intervene.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 226, what plans he has to introduce legislation or amending legislation to give powers to the police to remove a passport from a convicted troublemaker or any person the police reasonably believe to be seeking to travel overseas to engage in violence;
(2) pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column235, what plans he has to introduce legislation or amend existing legislation to give powers to the police to stop convicted troublemakers from travelling outside the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MacleanI shall consider what additional measures may be needed to deal with football hooligans travelling abroad in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage and in the light of the report of the inquiries being conducted by the English and Irish football authorities. As the hon. Member will be aware, part II of the Football Spectators Act 1989 already empowers the courts to impose restriction orders on those convicted of football-related offences to prevent them from attending key matches abroad. Those subject to restriction orders are required to 655W report to a police station—of their choice—roughly when an appropriate match is taking place. It is an offence to fail to do so.