§ Lord Macaulay of Bragarasked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) what legal relationship exists between the police and football clubs in Scotland for the supervision of matches; (b) whether the Police have the rower to stop a football match from proceeding 74WA if a club refuses to comply with police recommendations as to crowd limits and ticket sales; (c) if so, on what legal basis would the police exercise such power, and (d) on what legal basis do the police have power to ban the sale of tickets on the day of the match at outlets away from the ground at which the game is to be played.
§ Lord StrathclydePolice officers in Scotland have a statutory duty to guard, patrol and act so as to prevent the commission of offences, to preserve order and to protect life and property. Police authorities may enter into agreements with football clubs for this duty to be carried out in their grounds. In addition requirements in the safety certificate issued by regional councils under the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 may bear on the police and the clubs and need to be met in respect of each designated ground. The police have no separate legal powers to stop a football match if there is a dispute with a club about crowd limits or ticket sales but in practice, and understanding the general duty of the police to preserve order and to protect life, the clubs co-operate fully with the police in this regard. Any failure to do so could affect the terms of their safety certificate. The position on the sale of tickets on match days is the same. However, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has provided detailed guidance to the football authorities and to the police on these matters following Lord Justice Taylor's report into the Hillsborough disaster. This guidance is contained in Scottish Office Education Department Circular No. 10/1991, a copy of which is in the Library.