COUNTRY PRESENTATION

Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Population: 68,265.209 inhabitants ("Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2023")

Capital: London

Date of accession to the Council of Europe: 1949

State of signature/ratification
Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events, 2016

Date of Signature: 15/05/2019

Date of Ratification: 31/10/2023

Date of entry into force: 01/12/2023

Coordination Arrangements

Presentation of the country's main government and sports institutions

  • Ministry of Youth and Sport:
  • Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • Ministry of Justice
    • England and Wales: the Ministry of Justice - is responsible for courts, prisons, probation services and attendance centres
    • Scotland: the Justice Directorate - is responsible for the justice system, policy on punishment and rehabilitation, civil and criminal law and licensing frameworks
    • Northern Ireland: the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland) is responsible for the resourcing, legislative and policy framework of the justice system
  • National committee on sport safety and security
    • The Sports Grounds Safety Authority SGSA is the UK Government’s advisor on safety at sports grounds. Its primary purpose is to ensure sports grounds are safe for everyone

Independent sports safety bodies:

  • The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) is the UK Government’s expert body on safety at sports grounds. It is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The purpose of the SGSA is to ensure that all spectators can enjoy watching sport in safety and that all people working/volunteering at the sports ground are also protected from physical harm or injury. It has two regulatory duties: to licence Premier League, EFL and international football grounds, and oversee local authorities in safety certification. Under the provisions of the Football Spectators Act 1989 -, the SGSA is required to operate a licensing scheme to regulate the spectator viewing accommodation at Premier League and Football League grounds plus Wembley and the Millenium Stadium. The SGSA is also required by the 1989 Act to keep under review how local authorities discharge their functions under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 at those grounds. SGSA inspectors will carry out a variety of inspections and audits together with regular ‘during performance inspections’ of the ground as a part of the oversight role.
  • Local Authorities in Northern Ireland issue safety certificates.  Sport NI act for the Department for Communities regarding application of legislation. The Sports Ground Safety Authority provide advice and guidance to the sector. Further details can be found at Department for Communities website link - Roles and Responsibilities - Safety of Sports Grounds.
  • The United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) is a policing team dedicated to supporting police forces and partner agencies to reduce incidents of football related violence, disorder and anti-social behaviour involving football supporters. UKFPU acts as the National Football Information Point (NFIP) for the UK. It performs a coordination role across all police forces in England and Wales and supports police in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It also manages the Football Banning Orders Authority which is the enforcing authority responsible for the administration of football banning orders in England and Wales.

Main Sports/Sport Activities

Main sports in the country (by number of members)

  • In England and Wales, the main participation sports are Football, Running, Swimming, Golf and Tennis [1]
  • In Northern Ireland, the main sports are Gaelic Sports, Football, Golf, Rugby and Boxing
  • In Scotland the main participation sports are Golf, Football, Tennis, Lawn Bowls and Rugby Union

National Olympic Committee

Main sports federations and leagues

Relevant good practices in the S4 domain

  • The Football Supporters’ Association operate fans’ embassies at most England and Wales men’s national team football matches and tournaments outside of the UK. Its volunteer teams provide a valuable information, advice and casework service to travelling fans.
  • The Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs organised and operated the Northern Ireland Fans’ Embassy at UEFA EURO 2016, consisting of 50 volunteers who assisted supporters with issues such as lost passports and stadium directions.  The Fans’ Embassy, which worked with the Football Supporters’ Federation, was recognised by UEFA and had the support of the Irish Football Association, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

[1] Sport England (2023), Participation in the last 28 days by activity, Nov 22-23

[2] Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Irish athletes may choose to compete for either Northern Ireland, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, or Ireland

Major Sports Events

Last major sports events organised since 2000 and key elements of their legacy

  •  
  • UEFA EURO 2020 Men’s Football tournament
  • UEFA EURO 2022 Women’s Football tournament
  • 2019 Men’s Cricket World Cup
  • 2022 Men’s Rugby League World Cup
  • 2022 (Birmingham) and 2014 (Glasgow) Commonwealth Games (multi-sport)
  • In 2012 the UK hosted the Olympics and Paralympics (London 2012).
    • 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros - 2.3 million more women and girls in England playing football in 2022-23, compared to the prior season and over 418,000 new grassroots legacy opportunities.
    • The Birmingham 2022 (B2022) Commonwealth Games generated £1.2 billion GVA of economic output for the UK, nearly £80 million of social value and 22,380 full-time equivalent employees (FTE) years of employment.
    • Well over £150m of additional social value is expected to be generated in the longer term as a result of skills and apprenticeships delivered through Games programmes (£151.4 million) and community use of Games facilities (£1.8 million per annum).
    • A 27% increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in the West Midlands between 2021/22 and 2022/23, compared to 4% in the rest of the UK.
    • An increase of 6% in visitor numbers to Birmingham in 2022 compared to 2019.
    • The 2022 Rugby League World Cup invested £25.8 million, including £10 million from the UK Government, into improving facilities across the country.
    • The Glasgow Commonwealth Games improved sports facilities and led to the development of over 180 Community Sport Hubs.
    • 10% increase in Scottish sport playing membership between 2013-14 and 2016-17 for sports involved in the Commonwealth Games.

Government, policing and other relevant authorities always consider “lessons learnt” after major events to ensure that good practice can be continued and that any potential future issues can be mitigated.

Future major sports events organised and/or co-organised within the next 5 years

  • Orkney 2025 Islands Games (multi-sport), Scotland
  • The 153rd Open Championship (golf) at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland – 2025
  • 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup
  • 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup
  • 2026 European Athletics Championships
  • 2028 UEFA Men’s European Championship (England, Scotland and Wales)
  • 2030 T20 Cricket Men's World Cup.

The country's main sports competitions

  • There are a number of major sports competitions across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. A few of these include:
    • The FA Premier League (England)
    • The English Football League (England and Wales)
    • Premiership Rugby (England)
    • Scottish Professional Football League
    • The County Championship (cricket) (England and Wales).

Supporter Organisations

National supporter organisations or National team supporter organisations

Legal Framework

National legal framework on sports safety and security, including specific legal provisions on:

  • List of main laws and regulations:

In England and Wales, the following legislation applies:

    • Football Spectators Act 1989 - This Act provides for the making by courts, and the enforcement of, orders imposing restrictions on persons convicted of certain offences from attending designated football matches including outside England and Wales for the purpose of preventing violence or disorder at or in connection with designated football matches and to confer functions on the licensing authority in relation to safety certificates for grounds at which such matches are played. (Territorial Extent is England and Wales).
    • The Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 - This Act makes provision for safety at sports stadia and other sports grounds, using a safety certification regime. (Territorial extent is England, Wales and Scotland).
    • Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 - This Act extends and amends enactments relating to fire precautions and makes like provisions at sports grounds; to extend as respects indoor sports premises. (Territorial extent is England, Wales and Scotland).
    • Public Order Act 1986 - This Act created offences relating to public order; to control public processions and assemblies; and to control the stirring up of hatred against persons on the grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation. And to provide for the exclusion of certain offenders from sporting events. Some provisions extend to England & Wales and some also to Scotland.
    • Football (Offences) Act 1991 - This Act created offences relating to disorderly conduct by persons attending football matches. (Territorial extent is England and Wales).
    • The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol, etc.) Act 1985 - An Act creating offences of drunkenness, possessing alcohol within view of the pitch, and possessing pyrotechnics during the period of designated sporting events. (Territorial extent is England and Wales).

In Scotland the following legislation applies:

All information relating to the Northern Ireland legislation – including the Safety at Sports Grounds (NI) Order 2006 (including guidance) and the NI Justice Act (Part IV) - can be found at Safety of sports grounds | Department for Communities

  • National / local coordination bodies:
    • Local multi-agency Safety Advisory Groups comprise representatives from local authorities, policing and other emergency services. Relevant local partners are also members.

 

  • Share of safety and security responsibilities (inside/outside of sports venues):
    • Broadly speaking, there is a general split where the club or event organiser will cover the safety arrangements within their footprint and outside of this it will be the responsibility of public bodies, i.e., police and local authority. There are circumstances where there is an agreed overlap.
    • Stewarding/ private security, for example at football matches, would likely include the club’s own stewards (in-house) and any externally contracted staff (agency).
    • Applicable safety regulations and licensing requirements which are achieved through monitoring and inspection includes the Health and Safety at Work  etc. Act 1974 – this is an Act that makes provision for securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work, and for protecting others against risks to health or safety in connection with the activities of persons at work, amongst other things.

 

 

 

 

  • Social-educational preventative measures / projects:
    • There are a number of civil society organisations that work in this space, and this includes, for example, Kick it Out.
    • The football authorities and clubs run various social and educational initiatives at a national and local level.

 

  • Alcohol/drug policy:
    • Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 (England and Wales).
    • Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 - an Act to make new provision with respect to dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs and related matters (UK).
    • Licensing Act 2003 - www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/17 - an Act to make provision about the regulation of the sale and supply of alcohol, the provision of entertainment and the provision of late-night refreshment, about offences relating to alcohol and for connected purposes (England and Wales and s 155 to NI).
    • Part 2 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 1995 – restrictions on alcohol.

 

  • Specific sport-related misbehaviours typified as crimes:
    • Football (Offences) Act 1991 – covering specific offences inside stadia including entering the playing area (England and Wales).
    • The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 – restricts the consumption and possession of alcohol and pyrotechnics (England and Wales).
    • Section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 - covers the offence of “ticket touting” in respect of football matches (England and Wales).
    • Part 2 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 1995 – restrictions on alcohol.

 

  • Specific sport-related misbehaviours typified as misdemeanours:
    • UK law does not categorise crimes in this way.

 

  • Exclusion policy (banning orders / exit bans): Football Spectators Act 1989 (England and Wales) – established a framework of football banning orders. These can only be imposed by a court either following conviction for a football-related offence or on consideration of a police / prosecution evidence file detailing violent and disorderly behaviour.
    • Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006.
    • Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 – established a system of sporting event banning orders covering football, rugby union and Gaelic football.

 

  • Measures taken / envisaged by States to meet the objectives of the Convention:
    • The UK is fully compliant with the Convention.

National Strategies/Policies

Existence of specific safety, security and/or service public policies:

  • The UK ratified the Saint-Denis Convention on 31 October 2023. It came into force on 1 December 2023.

Existence of a national strategy on safety, security and service:

  • Although there is no specific national strategy on safety, security, and service in place, the UK Government and the devolved governments work closely with relevant authorities, including policing, to ensure the safety and security of everyone.

Existence of regional/local strategies on safety, security and service:

  • Local authorities are responsible for the monitoring and inspection regimes.
  • The Scottish Government has set up a short life working group to consider whether FBO legislation in Scotland needs to be reviewed to support tackling the increasing use of pyrotechnics.

Major Risks and Incidents

Major risks and trends on sport-related violence and disorder:

  • Football has a different public order dynamic to other sports and an increased risk of spontaneous and organised violence and disorder.  This is why the UK has a dedicated police unit to tackle football-related crime and disorder. Since the COVID 19 pandemic there has been an increase in football-related arrests in England and Wales. The highest volume offences from the 2,584 arrests in 2023/24 season (the last available published data[1]) were public order (43%) and violent (19%) offences.
  • In Scotland, illegal pyrotechnic use at and related to football remains an ongoing and increasing concern, despite recent legislation restricting use and extending police powers.

Last major incidents which seem relevant and enlightening on the need to adopt an integrated approach to safety, security and service:

 

 

Please provide a graph of the evolution of total incidents over the last 10 years.

Reported incidents at football matches by incident severity, England and Wales,

                                           2017/18 season to 2023/24 season[2]

 

Season

Total reported incidents

Incident severity: Low

Incident severity: Medium

Incident severity: High

2017/18

1,050

772

190

88

2018/19

1,007

687

235

85

2019/20

969

667

219

83

2020/21

79

66

7

6

2021/22

1,609

1,027

426

156

2022/23

1,516

938

437

141

2023/24

1,341

996

268

77

 

\

Last updated on January 2025