UK police to assist World Cup security operation in Brazil

The team in Brazil will be led by Chief Superintendent Rachel Barber of South Yorkshire Police, supported by the national police lead on football, Deputy Chief Constable Andy Holt, who will act as ‘Gold’ commander based in the UK.

DCC Andy Holt said:

“British police are among the best in the world at policing football matches and it is testament to their work with supporters groups and others involved in the game that serious football violence has declined. At the last World Cup in 2010 there were only seven arrests of England fans, none of them for football-related violence.

“It is also important that fans play their part in keeping themselves and others safe – by avoiding protests or confrontation, keeping personal belongings safe and leaving plenty of time to get to match venues.

“Very importantly, if you are the subject of a football banning order, you must surrender your passport to your nominated police station by May 31. If you attempt to travel to Brazil, we will be keeping an eye out for you and in the very unlikely event that you are not picked up at a port or airport, our intelligence team in Brazil will spot you and there will be serious legal consequences for you back home.

“In the UK, the policing operation will be friendly yet firm during the World Cup. We want fans to have a good time wherever they gather to watch matches, but we ask those drinking alcohol to do so responsibly and not become an unnecessary drain on police resources. Our best advice to people is: enjoy the tournament and take care for your own safety and that of your friends.”

ENDS

1) Fans travelling to Brazil can find regular travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on www.fco.gov.uk which will keep people informed of the need for caution and vigilance in terms of personal safety in Brazil.

2) The team being sent to Brazil consists of the following:

• Silver Commander Chief Superintendent Rachel Barber (South Yorkshire Police) – Mobile team leader
• Roger Evans (Deputy Director, UK Football Policing Unit) – Brasilia-based team leader
• PC Chris Hawkes (Bedfordshire Police, seconded to UKFPU) – Brasilia Team
• PC Ashley Keyte (Greater Manchester Police) – Brasilia Team
• PC Stewart Bladen (West Midlands Police) – Mobile Team
• PC Paul Foley (Hampshire Constabulary) – Mobile Team
• PC Andy King (Norfolk Constabulary) – Mobile Team

3) The mobile team consists of the Silver Commander and two ‘spotters’ who will gather intelligence on fans who are misbehaving and other public order considerations during events and matches concerning England fans. Information gathered will be shared with the static team in Brasilia and the UKFPU in London as well as, where appropriate, the Brazilian authorities.

• The mobile team will be accompanied by Paddy Cooper from the ACPO Communications Office who will be looking after media relations on behalf of the UK policing delegation

4) The static team will be based at the National Coordination Centre, located at Federal Police HQ in Brasilia. They will monitor information coming in from the mobile team and advise the mobile team of items of note. There will be similar teams from some other participating nations based at the Coordination Centre also.

5) The UK policing delegation will remain in Brazil as long as the England team is in contention.

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk