Where Will It All End

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Joint Press Release on behalf of Cardiff City Football Club, Cardiff Blues, Football Association of Wales, Liberty Stadium and Millennium Stadium.

This statement follows a meeting in Cardiff called to discuss the recent announcements by the Chief Constable of the South Wales Police, Barbara Wilding, in respect of the cost of policing major events in the South Wales Police area.


"The Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Ms Barbara Wilding, has this week announced in the media her intention as from the 6 April, 2009 to charge the organisers of major events for the recovery of all police costs associated with the policing of events.

The existing arrangements for the recovery of costs in respect of policing major sporting events are that the stadium or event organiser are responsible for the cost of all Police Officers on duty within, or on stadium property, whose services have been requested by the club or organiser, but not for any costs arising from policing the streets and public places around the venue. The basis of these costs are set out in guidance given to Chief Constables in Home Office Circular 34/2000.

Whilst we acknowledge the demands placed on policing resources arising from the need to police areas around stadia and in city centres arising from events, we do not agree that the Chief Constable has any authority to impose the cost of policing outside a venue on a stadium or event organiser.

In December 2008, in the Court of Appeal, Wigan Football Club won their case against the Greater Manchester Police for the recovery of monies paid for the cost of policing outside the JJB Stadium. In judgement at High Court, Sir Andrew Morritt held that the policing services outside the stadium had not been "requested" by the club and therefore the police were not entitled to recover these costs.

Based on the guidance given to the Chief Constable in Home Office Circular 34/2000, and the ruling of the Court of Appeal in respect of the recovery of police costs, we would ask that the Chief Constable now publicly clarify the position of South Wales Police in this matter and, in particular, her statement that additional costs will be imposed upon stadia and event organisers as from 6 April, 2009

The present position is that we believe some of the statements made by the Chief Constable have been both inaccurate and provocative and have the potential to discourage event organisers from considering south Wales venues for their events. On this basis we are seeking clarification in this matter."