Scottish Government

ISBN 978 1 78045 300 2 (web only publication)
ISSN 2045 6964
DPPAS 11857

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This report is accompanied by a Research Findings

The fieldwork for the evaluation was conducted between April 2010 and January 2011. The report therefore covers a period preceding recent high profile developments with regard to violence around football including the Football Summit, the establishment of the Joint Action Group (JAG) and the introduction of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill. The new legislation and the work of the JAG is expected to lead to an increasing number of Football Banning Orders (FBOs) in Scotland. The JAG report ( www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/07/football-summit-report) was published on 11 July 2011.

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1 PROJECT AIMS AND METHODOLOGY

Methodological approach - Scotland

Methodological approach - England and Wales

2 FOOTBALL BANNING ORDERS: AN OVERVIEW

Football banning orders

The evolution of Football Banning Orders

Patterns and trends in football violence

3 PERFORMANCE, ENFORCEMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS

The quality of FBO targeting and decision making

Comparing FBO and Non- FBO convictions

Number of previous convictions

Quality of written evidence

The effectiveness of issued FBOs

The squeezed middle?

4 POLICING, STADIA SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT

Identifying a football-related offence

In stadia

Away from the stadia

But what, and who, is an FBO actually for?

Identifying risk supporters, emerging risks, and organised violence

Pursuing an FBO application

Pursuing summary applications

Enforcement and the FBO Authority

5 SHERIFFS AND PROCURATOR FISCAL DEPUTES

Introduction

Appropriateness of FBOs

The sectarian aspect

The duties of the clubs

Attaching special conditions

The contribution of the Crown

Training and informal learning

6 FOOTBALL BANNING ORDERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

Introduction

Method

Numbers of banning orders in England and Wales

Banning orders by offence type

Banning Order by length in England and Wales

Performance and effectiveness

Police processes

Evidence required

Court processes

Enforcement

7 CONCLUSIONS

APPENDIX 1: LIST OF INTERVIEWEES AND EVENT ATTENDANCE in SCOTLAND

APPENDIX 2: LIST OF FOCUS GROUP MEMBERS AND INTERVIEWEES FROM ENGLAND AND WALES

APPENDIX 3: DETAILS OF SCOTTISH CRIMINAL RECORDS OFFICE SAMPLE OF CONVICTED FBO AND NON- FBO OFFENDERS

APPENDIX 4: ENGLISH FOOTBALL BANNING ORDER DATA

REFERENCES