Should Tottenham have to pay more for home games
The Metropolitan Police want an extra £10 million to police football matches in London the Tottenham & Wood Green Independent has revealed.
Costs are rising all the time and the Metropolitan Police are looking at ways to increase their revenue. Over the last 3 season they claim the cost of policing football matches in the capital has been £17.5 million ($28.55m - €22.01m), of which they have only recovered £7.5 million ($12.23m - €9.43m) from the football clubs themselves.
For a year now the Metropolitan Police have been negotiating with clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, to fully cover the cost of policing them for matches. Peter Terry is from the Specialist Crime and Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police and he spoke to the paper about the issue.
Getting any further answers though is no simple task. Haringey Council chief executive Nick Walkley has been to Scotland Yard to discuss the matter but he says it's a matter for the Metropolitan Police to deal with. Tottenham Hotspur say the Premier League are dealing with the matter and the Premier League refuse to comment.
The Football League say that football pays the treasury over £1 billion a year in taxes and the state should be covering the cost, it's what the taxes are paid for and fans should not have to pay twice, however the Metropolitan Police want full cost recovery.
The figures have not been broken down, so there is no indication of how much Tottenham matches cost to police, how much Tottenham actually pay or are being asked to pay.
There are 13 professional football teams in London in the football league and 2 sides in the Conference Premier. There are of course other sides with small crowds that also need a police presence.
Arsenal - Emirates Stadium 60,338 - Founded 1886
Chelsea - Stamford Bridge 42,449 - Founded 1905
Crystal Palace - Selhurst Park 26,309 - Founded 1905
Queens Park Rangers - Loftus Road 18,360 - Founded 1882
West Ham United - Boleyn Ground 35,303 - Founded 1895
Charlton Athletic - The Valley 27,111 - Founded 1905
Fulham - Craven Cottage 25,700 - Founded 1879 (Oldest London club in the Football League)
Millwall - The Den 20,146 - Founded 1885
Dagenham & Redbridge - Victoria Road 6,078 - Founded 1992
There are other clubs like Barnet and Welling United in the football conference and a breakdown of policing costs for each has not been provided.
The cost of policing Tottenham matches remains under review with no sign of a resolution.
Costs are rising all the time and the Metropolitan Police are looking at ways to increase their revenue. Over the last 3 season they claim the cost of policing football matches in the capital has been £17.5 million ($28.55m - €22.01m), of which they have only recovered £7.5 million ($12.23m - €9.43m) from the football clubs themselves.
For a year now the Metropolitan Police have been negotiating with clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, to fully cover the cost of policing them for matches. Peter Terry is from the Specialist Crime and Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police and he spoke to the paper about the issue.
“The Metropolitan Police Service has been trying to get London football clubs to sign the Special Police Services Agreement which was drawn up to ensure football clubs bear the cost and any liability incurred for officers provided to police their football matches.
“This follows a lengthy process of engagement with the clubs to discuss our position and give them ample opportunity to raise any concerns they might have.
“Some clubs have already signed up to the agreement, however a large number have not yet signed and the new football season is fast approaching.
“Historically, officers from across London have been taken out of their boroughs to support policing at football matches, often many miles away from their local communities.
“Those officers would be better placed within their own wards and neighbourhoods to support local policing needs.”
Getting any further answers though is no simple task. Haringey Council chief executive Nick Walkley has been to Scotland Yard to discuss the matter but he says it's a matter for the Metropolitan Police to deal with. Tottenham Hotspur say the Premier League are dealing with the matter and the Premier League refuse to comment.
The Football League say that football pays the treasury over £1 billion a year in taxes and the state should be covering the cost, it's what the taxes are paid for and fans should not have to pay twice, however the Metropolitan Police want full cost recovery.
The figures have not been broken down, so there is no indication of how much Tottenham matches cost to police, how much Tottenham actually pay or are being asked to pay.
There are 13 professional football teams in London in the football league and 2 sides in the Conference Premier. There are of course other sides with small crowds that also need a police presence.
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur - White Hart Lane 36,230 - Founded 1882Arsenal - Emirates Stadium 60,338 - Founded 1886
Chelsea - Stamford Bridge 42,449 - Founded 1905
Crystal Palace - Selhurst Park 26,309 - Founded 1905
Queens Park Rangers - Loftus Road 18,360 - Founded 1882
West Ham United - Boleyn Ground 35,303 - Founded 1895
Football League Championship
Brentford - Griffin Park 12,763 - Founded in 1889Charlton Athletic - The Valley 27,111 - Founded 1905
Fulham - Craven Cottage 25,700 - Founded 1879 (Oldest London club in the Football League)
Millwall - The Den 20,146 - Founded 1885
Football League One
Leyton Orient - Brisbane Road 9,271 - Founded 1881Football League Two
AFC Wimbledon - Kingsmeadow 4,850 - Founded 2002Dagenham & Redbridge - Victoria Road 6,078 - Founded 1992
There are other clubs like Barnet and Welling United in the football conference and a breakdown of policing costs for each has not been provided.
The cost of policing Tottenham matches remains under review with no sign of a resolution.
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