Home Office considers calls from Met to charge football more for policing
The Home Office is considering calls from the Metropolitan Police to make Premier League clubs pay a greater share of the cost of policing football. Last week the Commissioner of the Met, Sir Mark Rowley, said he wanted the government to legislate to ensure that football clubs reimburse local forces when resources are required to [...]
The Metropolitan Police has urged the government to legislate for Premier League clubs to shoulder a larger portion of the expenses incurred when policing football matches. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has advocated for the "polluter pays" principle, suggesting that clubs reimburse local forces for resources required to ensure matchday safety.
The Home Office, currently led by MP Shabana Mahmood, is reportedly evaluating whether the existing framework adequately balances taxpayer-funded policing costs with those recovered from football teams. According to 2024-25 statistics, only £2.1m was reimbursed by clubs against a policing cost of £23.4m, while the Premier League invested over £100m in safety measures last season, with Special Police Services costing £8m for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
London Assembly member Joanne McCartney has argued that, as the Met faces increased demand for essential services including counter-terrorism policing, clubs must bear a fairer share of the associated policing costs.
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