Arrests fall as banning orders rise

Arrests for soccer-related offences fell 11 per cent to 3,628 in England and Wales in the 2004-05 season, the Home Office said. At Premier League and lower division matches there were 2,725 arrests, the lowest in at least 10 years. The Home Office said...

Arrests for soccer-related offences fell 11 per cent to 3,628 in England and Wales in the 2004-05 season, the Home Office said.

At Premier League and lower division matches there were 2,725 arrests, the lowest in at least 10 years. The Home Office said the fall showed that targeted policing and legislation banning individuals from attending games were having a positive effect.

It said arrests for violent disorder were down 32 per cent to 428.

Authorities issued nearly 1,000 football banning orders last season, lifting the total number of outstanding bans by 21 per cent to 3,153.

The orders can even bar individuals from using public transport on match days.

The Home Office figures showed the club with the worst arrests record last season was Leeds United, with 173 of its supporters arrested at league and cup games.

It was followed by Manchester United with 160, Chelsea (130) and West Ham (105).

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