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Man United 'should pay policing costs'

12/08/2008

Manchester United is the most expensive club in the country to police, new figures show.

Last season, Greater Manchester Police spent £543,442 from their budget to patrol the club's games, according to figures obtained by the BBC.

Now the Association of Chief Police Officers wants football clubs to pay for the cost of policing matches.

At present, clubs only pay back the costs incurred inside their ground or on their property.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Thomas told the BBC that council tax payers are effectively meeting the cost of policing football games.

"Our normal police budget is being used for that purpose which means we then have to provide a lesser service to the rest of the community," he added.

But the Premier League pointed out that clubs contribute around £700 million a year to the Treasury through taxes.

Earlier this year, Manchester police officers were attacked by out-of-control Rangers FC fans when a public television screen in Piccadilly malfunctioned.