New Policing Bill: FSA submits evidence to Parliament

The Joint Committee on Human Rights is scrutinising the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which was introduced into Parliament in March earlier this year.

The Committee has been welcoming submissions on this Bill from interested groups and individuals – and the FSA has submitted a document outlining a number of concerns we have regarding the Bill’s remit.

There’s been a lot of talk recently about the Bill and how its broad scope could have serious impact on match-going fans and traditional supporter behaviour.

FSA caseworker Amanda Jacks has been leading the FSA’s response to the Bill and discussed it in detail in a blog we published on our site back in April – you can read that here.

“Unless the Bill is redrafted then we could see this legislation being used against fans on a match day,” Amanda said.

“In its current form the Bill is exceptionally broad and applicable in numerous instances such as fans congregating outside a pub, jumping around and singing, perhaps blocking access to a bus stop or spilling out into the road.

“The police already have powers of dispersal in a range of circumstances but it is deeply concerning to imagine that annoying or inconveniencing people could, effectively, become a criminal offence.”

• Policing Bill: Read the FSA’s Parliamentary submission here…