Police are examining the potential for violence to break out at forthcoming football fixtures in the wake of unrest in cities across England after the killings of three young girls in Southport. Existing assessments of fixtures are being looked at again in the light of the recent events, and individual forces are working closely with league officials and the Football Policing Unit (UKFPU). The preparations come as Keir Starmer said potential unrest caused by the start of the football season was “added into the mix” of the police and government’s plans for handling future disorder. Each of this weekend’s fixtures will be assessed to see whether more officers are needed inside or outside the ground, when fans mill around before the game, or as they go home. Assessments also cover whether more officers might be needed where fans congregate, such as city or town centres.
Intelligence on known troublemakers linked to football is being re-examined. The reassessment is precautionary, with no intelligence so far that indicates any higher risk of violence at games than normal. Already, more riot-trained officers than normal will be on duty, police having had intelligence of more so-called protests being announced for this weekend. Blackburn Rovers face Derby County and Preston North End play Sheffield United in the Championship’s two opening games from 8pm on Friday. The first game on Saturday at lunchtime is in Middlesbrough, the scene of violent disorder last weekend. That will be followed by the Community Shield fixture between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley from 3pm. A source said: “There is no intelligence suggesting trouble at this weekend’s football games.” Asked if the football season would make it easier or harder to manage rioting, the prime minister told reporters at Scotland Yard: “I think there were a lot of things in the mix this weekend but of course, whatever the challenge, we have to rise to it. That’s why I’ve had Cobra meetings, that’s why I’ve been talking to the police today about their plans for the weekend. The first matches of the new Premier League season begin later this month, starting with Manchester United at home to Fulham on 16 August and others taking place the following day. Gavin Stephens, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, told reporters that specialist police units and league officials were working to “effectively refresh” assessments of upcoming matches. The approach to examining the potential for disturbances took place on a “tier by tier” basis, “fixture by fixture”, Stephens told a briefing of reporters. “In reality, what would probably happen to do with some of those football fixtures is the resources will be drawn down the tiers in order to bolster, bolster extra support,” he said. While the far right in Britain has traditionally drawn support from football hooligans – particularly during the 1970s, 80s and 90s when the neo-Nazi group Combat 18 maintained a presence among England fans – some fans have also been a bedrock of support for the far-right agitator Tommy Robinson. The Premier League in the past warned about the Islamophobic activities of groups such as the self-styled Football Lads Alliance, which has subsequently split. Stephens, a Hartlepool United fan, said: “The other thing that I’d say, though, particularly about football, is that, yes, there are elements involved in football-related violence and we have our football policing unit for things banning orders. But my experience of football, particularly at that local level, is that they are great places, with a community spirit as well.”