sport news Cocaine surge at football as police blame drug for rise in violence

26 shares

120

View
comments

An alarming rise in cocaine use at football stadiums is fuelling growing levels of disorder, senior police officers have told Sportsmail.

In another weekend of violence, a steward was treated for a suspected broken nose after one of three pitch invasions. Police figures reveal a 10 per cent increase in drug-related arrests at grounds in the past year, including a doubling of arrests for cocaine possession — from 32 to 68. But police believe these figures grossly understate the true picture.

Swabs taken by police in club toilets reveal increased evidence of cocaine-taking. One force made 15 arrests for possession of the drug at a recent Championship game.

But senior officers say the cocaine scourge — which reflects rising use of the drug in society — is virtually impossible to deal with because of the clubs' determination to replace police with stewards and security firms to cut costs. Many stewards do not even have powers to search fans who are a threat to public order.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs' Council football policing lead, told Sportsmail on Monday that cocaine was a major concern.

He said: 'We believe it is linked to a rise in disorder at grounds. It is a significant factor.'

Roberts disclosed that a study of the 43 British police forces has revealed the total cost of policing football last year was £48.5million. Yet the total amount of that cost recovered by forces was a mere £5.5m.

Police want clubs to examine contributing to costs of policing beyond the precincts of grounds and possibly commit to some form of direct funding for police. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) on Monday called for a change in the law to allow forces to recover more costs for policing games.

Roberts said: 'Football can't just pick and choose the bits that look sweet for it. It wants its stadiums to be shiny

read more from dailymail.....