Football Banning Order

[medsecslave]

My son has just received a Court summons in relation to a football banning order. The police are applying for him to be banned for five years. He received a fixed penalty fine in 2008 and was given a 12 month conditional discharge and £75 fine for a public order offence in August 2009. He was distraught enough at having a criminal record and has not been involved in anything whatsoever since but because he's been seen associating with 'risk' fans and "using his mobile phone constantly" (!!!!) that's enough to apply for a banning order. They also commented that at one match he didn't look interested in the game. It's just ridiculous beyond belief.

Now he has to consult a solicitor and start the defence process again. I am beyond despair here.

[jlordy20]

so what is your question?

[medsecslave]

Sorry! My question is - can he be given a banning order for associating with so-called 'risk'. It's commented that he went to a match in Amsterdam with two risk fans. Neither of these fans have ever been in trouble with the police. They went to watch the match and came home again, no trouble at all. I can't see what their problem is here - he went to Court, got a conditional discharge and a fine and hasn't been in trouble since.

Its a 14(b) banning order and they want him banned from ALL matches for five years. There's an exclusion zone for match days and we live within the exclusion zone. If he contests anything, he's to do so within 14 days of the letter date which was 29th September and they want him in Court on 6th October!!

What can he do in a case like this - from what I can see it's just a police formality and he stands no chance. Will he have to declare it on job applications?

[medsecslave]

Banned from all matches in England and Wales I meant to say.

[daffy654]

Why are you 'beyond despair' because your son may be banned from attending football matches? Surely he can find another interest. Attending a football match is not important in the grand scheme of things.

[medsecslave]

I'm beyond despair at the unfairness of him being targeted when he's done nothing wrong.

[squarebear]

Sounds like they are stopping any problems before they start. Although being uniterested in the game is a bit harsh.

[daffy654]

I know we would all like to think that our children can 'do no wrong', but sometimes thay can and do.
I can't see why the police would be wasting their own (and the court's) time if your son had genuinely done nothing wrong.
If he really is innocent then it will all have to be left in the hands of his solicitor to try and prove.

[jno]

squarebear, on that basis they could arrest just about the entire crowd at any given cricket match.

Nothing to do but hire a solicitor and get to work, medsecslave. If he's been in trouble twice in two years, it's no wonder they're keeping an eye on him. It sounds as though he may have a reasonable defence; however, I don't know the law in this area.

[medsecslave]

Daffy654 - if he'd done something wrong, he would have been arrested and charged with something!!!! As I said before, he has not been in any further trouble.

[squarebear]

Was it the same son as one of your previous questions:
http://www.theanswerb...l/Question816907.html

[medsecslave]

http://www.guardian.c...ball-hooliganism-laws

This link sums it up

[medsecslave]

Yes squarebear - and yes it was the paper's error!