Text at top (next game etc)

Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Cost Of Policing Football Matches - Again

A debate on the cost of policing football matches is to take place in Parliament later this afternoon.

Aidan Burley, the Tory MP for Cannock Chase, is to lead the debate and he is expected to question Home Office ministers on whether football clubs should pay more towards policing around football grounds as well as inside grounds.

Hereford United have an arrangement with West Mercia Police about who picks up the cost for policing around Edgar Street.

In effect the club and the police agree which matches might need extra policing and the club makes a contribution to those costs.

Whether the debate later this afternoon will reveal any new thinking by the Home Office about football clubs paying more towards policing around their grounds remains to be seen.

But one thing seems certain, the days of free policing at games is over.