Bradford City arrests hit highest level since 2016/17

Figures released on Friday showed there were 18 football-related arrests of Bradford City supporters in the 2021/22 season.

That is the highest amount of arrests since 31 fans were detained during the 2016/17 season.

There were also 10 football banning orders handed out to Bradford City fans last season.

These orders are given to those who commit certain offences within a stadium, travelling to or from a game, or are crimes that are deemed to be football-related.

If issued, the fan cannot go to any football match within the UK, and has to surrender their passport when a national game is played outside of the country.

Valley Parade, home of Bradford City (Image: N/A)

The most common offence committed by Bradford City fans was public disorder, with eight of the 18 arrests for this reason.

The Bantams issued a statement in July warning against crowd disorder after the rise in the number of football banning orders among fans.

Football-related disorder has surged right across England.

Arrests were up by 59 per cent compared to 2018-19, the last season undisrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, to 2,198.

The was also the highest number since 2,273 were made in the 2013-14 season.

The authorities dished out 516 new football banning orders in total, meaning 1,308 were in force by the summer of 2022.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for football policing, said: “Disorder is a problem that has not gone away, and throughout the whole of last season we saw an increase in crime at football matches across the country – from the Premier League right down to the National League.

“Following constructive talks with the Premier League, EFL and FA we are keen to support our partners in delivering their proposals – including the introduction of stadium bans for people who enter the pitch, as well as those who use pyrotechnics.

“The statistics released today show a worrying rise in these crimes, which are both extremely dangerous for players, staff and fellow fans alike.”

Police on horseback at a football ground (Image: Radar)

The Premier League saw the most banning orders of England and Wales’ top five leagues, with 412 in force at the end of the season, while League Two fans were issued 155.

West Ham had the highest number of arrests for a single club – 95 across the season – followed by Manchester City with 76, and Manchester United with 72.

Nationally, hate crime was reported 384 times, and drug use 170 times – both all-time highs.

Home Office Minister Jeremy Quin said: “Our football clubs are at the heart of our communities, and it is unacceptable that the game we all love is tarnished by a minority of selfish troublemakers.

“The increase in football-related arrests shows that police are taking firm action to stop this disorder and preserve the enjoyment of the game for fans and families which I wholeheartedly support.”