Slide 1

Policing Football Fans in Europe Case studies of the Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 football championships Prof. Dr. Otto M.J. Adang http://policestudies.homestead.com

Slide 2

Adang (1990): Study into initiation and escalation of riots In the Netherlands and during Euro 88 (Germany) Systematic and structured observations Over 700 observation hours (around 71 football matches and 139 protest events) Quantitative analysis

Slide 3

Ethological observations Direct recording of observations Limited number of well-defined behavioural categories Focus on interaction Focal group Comparative approach

Slide 4

Research questions What happens: who uses violence, how many, what type of violence, against whom, under what circumstances, what response? What factors influence the initiation and escalation of violence?

Slide 5

Main conclusions initiation of violence: frictions young male syndrome escalation of violence: ingroup/ outgroup mechanisms opportunity/ perception of risk normal social mechanisms are operating, but influence of alcohol and drugs

Slide 6

Police can do a lot to prevent violence, but little to stop it need to differentiate need to communicate need to observe need for focused, timely interventions

Slide 7

A test: Adang & Cuvelier, 2001

Slide 8

8 Amsterdam Rotterdam Arnhem Eindhoven Brussel Luik Charleroi Brugge

Slide 9

Stated policy: police tactics non-confrontational: preventive rather than repressive small units, easily approachable, actively contacting fans early and focused interventions riot squads out of sight

Slide 10

Stated policy: police behavioural profile Police officers: are service oriented, respectful of other cultures/ nationalities and unbiased are aware of the importance of information act within policy, without prejudice act justly and strictly in a friendly and firm way

Slide 11

Data collection International monitoring team (all host cities) questionnaire (individually) summary of team observations Foreign spotters teams questionnaire (individually) exit interview with teams Observation team in each host city systematic observations qualitative diaries

Slide 12

Results: two clusters, differing especially in: primarily fullfilled preventive role treated visitors as guests were easily approachable by fans switched flexibly clearly stated limits of tolerance

Slide 13

Slide 14

Slide 15

Public order management during Euro 2004: explicit choice for low profile approach Adang & Stott

Slide 16

Data collection Euro 2004 Matches of England, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal [and Albufeira] Interviews with police and fans International monitoring team Observation teams (4 * 4) in host cities: match days and preceding night samples every 15 min, in between qualitative

Slide 17

7 matches increased risk: 997 samples (England, Germany) 7 matches normal risk: 899 samples (Netherlands, Portugal) Albufeira

Slide 18

Slide 19

Slide 20

Slide 21

Slide 22

Slide 23

Slide 24

Slide 25

Slide 26

Slide 27

Note Extensive use of plainclothes officers Intervention units out of sight but close Observations of potential incidents Presence of hooligans

Slide 28

Conclusions Police strategy and tactics (low profile approach) succesful and contributed to: Development of common football/ euro 2004 identity Empowerment of non-violence (self-policing among fans) Contribution of international police cooperation banning orders community policing approach to international cooperation

Slide 29

International police cooperation: differences in approaches CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE/ INVESTIGATION APPROACH Focus on deterrence and punishment Covert (no interaction with fans) Indirectly influencing fan behaviour Focus on individuals/ prominents COMMUNITY POLICING APPROACH Focus on public order management Open (interaction with fans) Directly influencing fan behaviour Focus on behaviour

Slide 30

Foreign police at work (Braga)

Slide 31

Strategic principles balance between risk and deployment dynamic assessment of risk proactive communication facilitation within limits differentiation

Slide 32

Trends in public order policing from riot control to public order management increased international cooperation more knowledge-based more systematic evaluations search for good practice (what works) practice and training more informed by more practically useful research