Trust Joins Campaign To Make Watching Football Not A Crime

Last updated : 19 November 2009 By Sky Blue Trust

TRUST JOINS CAMPAIGN TO MAKE WATCHING “FOOTBALL NOT A CRIME”

Watching football is not a crime! is part of the Football Supporters Federation’s ongoing drive to monitor the police in their dealings with football supporters and work with them to ensure that all fans are treated fairly, within the law and in exactly the same way as other social groups.

In order to support this campaign locally the Sky Blue Trust will be handing out leaflets on Saturday (21st November) to ensure Coventry City supporters are not labelled a criminal because of their love of the game.

The campaign aims to highlight the unjust way Section 27 of the Violent Crimes Reduction Act (2006) is being used by police forces nationwide. The FSF have had reposts that the police have moved people across the entire country under threat of arrest if they don’t comply. No hard evidence appears to be required, and no crime needs to have been committed.

The aim of Section 27 was designed to allow small numbers of individuals who were misbehaving whilst under the influence of alcohol – for instance outside nightclubs at closing time. 

Natalie Cox, Media Co-ordinator, Sky Blue Trust said “While we, as a Trust, have had no specific reports of police using Section 27 in this way we feel it is important to highlight to supporters, especially those who travel to away games, their rights as a individual if Section 27 is served on them. As an organisation that is part of a wider network we believe we have a duty to ensure our members, supporters of CCFC and of the game of football are treated fairly and not discriminated against.”  

More information on the campaign is available from http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/Watching-football-is-not-a-crime.php