Football Policing Costs Reach £70 Million: What It Means for Event Security in the UK

Recent Home Office figures show that police dealt with incidents at a record 1,644 football matches during the 2025–26 season, while Chief Constable Mark Roberts has argued that the current funding model leaves taxpayers covering around £70 million a year in football policing costs. Almost half of football-related arrests and police action take place outside stadiums, leading to renewed calls for clubs to contribute more towards policing beyond their grounds. The Guardian

From a business security perspective, the discussion goes far beyond football.

It highlights an important reality: keeping large public events safe requires careful planning, trained personnel and close cooperation between event organisers, private security teams and the police. While police forces deal with criminal offences and public order, many day-to-day responsibilities at sporting events are carried out by professional security staff and stewards.

The Growing Importance of Private Event Security

Whether it's a football match, music festival, charity event or corporate gathering, event organisers are increasingly relying on private security companies to help maintain safe and enjoyable environments.

Professional security teams are responsible for tasks such as:

• Access control and ticket verification
• Crowd management
• Queue management
• Bag searches where appropriate
• Monitoring restricted areas
• Assisting vulnerable attendees
• Responding to incidents
• Supporting emergency evacuations
• Liaising with police and emergency services

By preventing minor issues from escalating, trained security officers help reduce pressure on emergency services while improving the overall experience for visitors.

Prevention Is Better Than Response

One of the biggest lessons from large-scale events is that prevention is always more effective than reacting after an incident has occurred.

Visible, professional security can deter anti-social behaviour, reassure attendees and identify potential risks before they develop into serious incidents.

Successful event security is built on preparation, including detailed risk assessments, clear communication, trained personnel and robust contingency planning.

Planning for Safe Events

Every event presents different challenges depending on its size, location and audience.

Organisers should consider:

• Expected attendance
• Entry and exit points
• Traffic management
• Emergency procedures
• Medical support
• Vulnerable persons
• Crowd flow
• Perimeter security
• Communication between security teams and emergency services

These considerations help create safer environments for everyone involved.

How All Time Security Supports Events

At All Time Security, we provide professional SIA-licensed security officers for sporting events, community celebrations, festivals, corporate functions and public gatherings across London and the surrounding counties.

Our teams work closely with event organisers to deliver tailored security solutions that prioritise public safety, customer service and efficient event management.

From entry screening and crowd management to incident response and emergency support, we help create secure environments where visitors can enjoy events with confidence.

Final Thoughts

The discussion around football policing costs is ultimately about resources, responsibility and public safety. Regardless of how funding evolves, one thing remains clear: effective event security depends on collaboration between organisers, private security providers and the police.

Investing in experienced, professional security isn't simply about meeting compliance requirements—it's about protecting people, supporting successful events and helping reduce the likelihood of incidents before they occur.