Only three police officers from the UK will head to the World Cup – after the Americans refused to pay.
Officials are expecting up to 15,000 England fans at each group game, including 1,000 friends and family from the FA.
However, only a tiny team of police experts will head out from these shores. Donald Trump’s White House say the federal police – rather than themselves – have declined to provide funding.
At recent major tournaments hosts have shelled out for specialist officers from these shores to travel and provide intelligence around England fans in a bid to swerve major issues and prevent overreactions from local forces.
Germany covered the cost for no fewer than 40 spotters to travel to the European Championship and there was a significant presence in Qatar and Russia paid for by the host nations.
Only three British police officers will travel to the United States for the World Cup
Referred to as ‘cultural interpreters‘ the officer – coupled with improved fan behaviour – have been key to the trend of relatively low arrest numbers at recent tournaments.
However, despite the fact that more than 18,000 different law enforcement agencies will be involved across the US, the government has refused to pay for ANY travelling officers from the UK.
Instead, the UK National Football Policing Unit will finance three specialists in what may be viewed as a concerning development.
‘They can work with local officers and tell them that the England fans may be noisy and loud but this is not a problem,’ said Mark Roberts, head of the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU). ‘They can point out that they are just having a good time and that they do not need to react.’
Mr Roberts refused to hit out at President Trump or the US government for the lack of funding. ‘This is not a criticism, this is a statement of fact,’ he said. ‘The number of officers we send is generally dependent upon the request of the hosts. In Germany we had 40 officers working with federal and state police. You get your officers out there and then the hosts pay for accommodation, travel and meals. It’s a different system in US. The US are not funding mobile travel delegations. We have to fund it in its entirety and there will be three officers.’
Mr Roberts added that the officers can often help tackle misconceptions. ‘Many a time we go into briefings with host police and they have almost had a pre-intelligence briefing from watching Football Factory or Green Street. We have seen local police expecting certain things. Once they have that mindset it is hard to dispel them.
‘We’d like to be sending a larger delegation. Unfortunately, it’s where we’re at. UKFPU just had a 10 per cent cut in funding from the Home Office. We’re going to have to be cute to amplify our reach but we need to manage expectations.’
Superintendent Gareth Parkin, one of the three heading across the Atlantic, added: ‘Some England fans sing and drink and can be boisterous. We explain (to local forces) that this is normal and not a precursor to disorder.’
The White House confirmed that the decision was taken by the Federal Police
Such is the issue with funding that the officers will be staying at the Boston Police Academy when England head to the north east city.
Despite the extortionate costs of tickets and travel, UK police are expecting between 10-15,000 England fans at each group fixture in Dallas, Boston and New York. That figure includes a traveling army of around 1,000 friends and relatives of the Three Lions’ players.
The Football Supporters Association will send out messaging warning fans of the different laws involved in each state. In Texas, for example, drinking alcohol in a car is banned. As Daily Mail Sport reported last week some states are looking at extending licensing laws to allow sales of booze for 23 hours.
Thomas Concannon, who leads the FSA’s England fans group, explained: ‘Vapes in Mexico (where England may play a knockout match) are also banned. We’ll be putting something together warning of the obvious things fans will think about.’
A specialist team based in the UK will be monitoring social media activity and have already spoken to England’s players about the threat of online abuse and what they should do if they are targeted.
Talks will also be ongoing throughout the tournament with the likes of Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. ‘Mike Ankers, deputy director of UKFPU, said they would be on the lookout for anyone breaking the law, regardless if they are using an anonymous account.
‘We will find you and we will take action,’ he said.
