Slight drop in banning orders handed out to fans at Fratton Park
35 given to men, a decrease of one
POMPEY saw a slight drop in the number of banning orders handed out to fans last season, according to government figures.
The Home Office’s annual report into football-related arrests and banning orders for the 2019/20 season in England and Wales showed the Fratton Park club had 35 banning orders in place – a drop of one after the previous season saw 36.
All were given to men, with one for someone aged between 10 and 17, 26 for people aged from 18 to 34, five for people aged 35 to 49, and three for men aged between 50 and 64.
There were 24 arrests during the season, with 19 at home and five away.
Eleven were for violent disorder, seven for public disorder, two each for pitch invasion and alcohol offences, and one each for throwing missiles and possessing pyrotechnics.
These statistics compare to 13 arrests in the 2018/19 season, 59 in 2017/18, 44 in 2016/17, 38 in 2015/16 and 19 in 2014/15.
Last season was notable for clashes before and after Pompey’s high profile Carabao Cup fixture with
Southampton on September 24 last year.
Drunken Derek Jennings, 53, of Laburnum Grove, Copnor, was among those in running street battles.
He was handed a six-year
banning order and was jailed for 20 months for violent disorder after punching a horse in the mouth and nose.
Seven other hooligans are due to be sentenced on October 9 for violent disorder at the match – although their banning orders will fall into the season 2020/21 statistics.
Over the four divisions Stoke City had the most banning orders for last season with 52.
West Ham United had the second most with 51 while
Mansfield Town had the third most with 50.
Leeds United had the highest number of arrests with 52, while Birmingham City had the second most with 49.
Overall, as at August 1, there were 1,621 football banning orders in force, representing a decrease of eight per cent from 1,771 a year previous.
This continues the downward trend seen in the number of football banning
orders in force, falling by 49 per cent from 3,174 at November 29, 2011.
Banning orders were virtually all handed to men with 99.4 per cent, while the 18-34 age group had the most bans.
Pompey was approached for comment.
There were 24 arrests during the season, with 19 at home and five away. Home Office report