DCMS Committee tell football clubs to take fan drug use at games ‘more seriously’

[Chester Perry]

This topic has been the subject of much complaint/debate on this board

from The Telegraph

Football clubs told to take fan drug use at games ‘more seriously’
Despite beefed up legislation to help tackle the problem, cocaine use among fans remains a big issue for football's authorities
https://archive.ph/Qpbjn

[daveisaclaret]

The point remains that there is very little football clubs can do about this problem.

It is a huge societal issue which is much bigger than football. Obviously the committee's brief is limited but I would suggest that as MPs if they want to do something about this they need to look much deeper.

Normally with issues like this I feel fan culture is an important part of change but there's nothing I would feel comfortable doing at a match to prevent someone using cocaine or try to modify their behaviour.

[bfcjg]

https://news.sky.com/story/mps-call-for ... h-13038741
Clamping down on entering grounds without tickets.

[South West Claret.]

Drug use remains a serious ongoing problem for a lot of venues I expect these days unfortunately.

[jdrobbo]

My thread at the start of last season rightly had to be pulled, as it got out of hand with people being abusive, but I stand by what I said….that opening Friday night fixture in Huddersfield was a massive eye opener as to just how many people were ‘possibly’ under the influence of drugs and how quickly they could become ridiculously angry and aggressive. It has needed addressing for a few years now.

[jrgbfc]

Do they still have the sniffer dogs on the cricket field stand turnstiles? Tbh not sure what the solution is, to a lot of young lads doing coke has become as routine as having a few pints.

[Winstonswhite]

The solution is sniffer dogs, random stop and search and charging for possession- or is that too straightforward?

[Loyalclaret]

Yes there are still dogs at the turnstile of the Cricketfield. Needs sorting at a level far higher than football.

[Mark the Claret]

If drug taking is as rife as some people would have you believe in the CFS, the sniffer dog must have a cold, how effective are they?

[aggi]

The solution is sniffer dogs, random stop and search and charging for possession- or is that too straightforward?

The trouble is that last bit. The police don't have the resources to take everyone down to the police station and charge them. Maybe the clubs could pay for the extra resources but that isn't going to work further down the league and then you'd get the question of why only football clubs have to pay.

[Clovius Boofus]

Coke is a pernicious drug and on so many levels. Not only does it turn people into belligerent dickheads, it's also fuels drug gang violence, street crime and burglaries. There has to be a clampdown, from supply to usage, but the authorities will need to have the resources to do this. Also, the courts will have to be harsh.

Yeah, I'm asking for the moon on a stick, especially when it comes to this shithole of a country where Govt's talk tough on crime, while delivering little.

[Enola Gay]

If media reports are true football could legitimately tell the DCMS committee 'physician, heal thyself'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59539589

[groove]

Maybe the DCMS should take drug use in the Houses of Parliament more seriously. Absolute hypocrites.

[Winstonswhite]

The trouble is that last bit. The police don't have the resources to take everyone down to the police station and charge them. Maybe the clubs could pay for the extra resources but that isn't going to work further down the league and then you'd get the question of why only football clubs have to pay.

But you wouldn’t need the resources to take “everyone” down.

Are you telling me that the police are unable to arrest half a dozen supporters every match?

The threat of an arrest and a drugs record, would be enough to put off a lot of lads from carrying cocaine into the ground with them.

[Jakubclaret]

But you wouldn’t need the resources to take “everyone” down.

Are you telling me that the police are unable to arrest half a dozen supporters every match?

The threat of an arrest and a drugs record, would be enough to put off a lot of lads from carrying cocaine into the ground with them.

They wouldn't even have to do that. There's nothing worse for a recreational drug user or an addict for their stuff to be confiscated. You just simply take whatever you find & later destroy it, as soon as people start losing their drugs you would see a reduction in carrying.

[aggi]

But you wouldn’t need the resources to take “everyone” down.

Are you telling me that the police are unable to arrest half a dozen supporters every match?

The threat of an arrest and a drugs record, would be enough to put off a lot of lads from carrying cocaine into the ground with them.

I think the numbers given were that each arrest would take 2-4 police away from the matchday policing operation.

[groove]

They wouldn't even have to do that. There's nothing worse for a recreational drug user or an addict for their stuff to be confiscated. You just simply take whatever you find & later destroy it, as soon as people start losing their drugs you would see a reduction in carrying.

Any proficient drug user would just stash their drugs somewhere outside the ground. Which has its own dangers as it could be found by a child or dog etc.

[Jakubclaret]

I think the numbers given were that each arrest would take 2-4 police away from the matchday policing operation.

You don't arrest them you don't need to do anything apart from a search & take away whatever you find that's illegal. You resist getting searched you get arrested but you wouldn't search in the first place without good suspicion.

[Jakubclaret]

Any proficient drug user would just stash their drugs somewhere outside the ground. Which has its own dangers as it could be found by a child or dog etc.

Why would you do that when you could just leave the gear at home, I've yet to stumble upon hidden drugs.

[Boss Hogg]

The trouble is that last bit. The police don't have the resources to take everyone down to the police station and charge them. Maybe the clubs could pay for the extra resources but that isn't going to work further down the league and then you'd get the question of why only football clubs have to pay.

Yet there are resources for people sat in speed camera vans everywhere. I’m sure resources could also be found to prosecute someone who didn’t address someone properly who identifies as a Mars Bar.

[groove]

Why would you do that when you could just leave the gear at home, I've yet to stumble upon hidden drugs.

I would imagine they'd want to pick them up en route to the pub after the game. You don't buy drugs and leave them at home.

[Jakubclaret]

I would imagine they'd want to pick them up en route to the pub after the game. You don't buy drugs and leave them at home.

So many variables at play. I certainly don't see the far fetched scenario that drugs would be recklessly hidden & children & animals discovering them.

[groove]

So many variables at play. I certainly don't see the far fetched scenario that drugs would be recklessly hidden & children & animals discovering them.
They wouldn't discover them if they were mine, that's for sure not that I partake in such activities.

[Winstonswhite]

I think the numbers given were that each arrest would take 2-4 police away from the matchday policing operation.

Ok. Well arrest one person per match. At least that’s a start.

This has been a growing problem for the last ten years and I’d be interested to know how many people have been arrested in that time for possession of drugs at Turf Moor.

[mikeS]

Club tweet
https://x.com/burnleyofficial/status/17 ... Tt4NuYDJWw

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[bfcjg]

The resemblance is uncanny.

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