The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has said he wants the government to legislate to ensure football clubs reimburse local forces for the cost of policing matches.

Sir Mark Rowley said the cost of policing London’s six Premier League clubs, and the eight others based in the capital who play lower down the football pyramid, amounts to around £20m annually. 

The latest City Hall stats put a £12.3m cost on policing football matches between August and December last year, with the previous two seasons, between the summers of 2023 and 2025, each seeing around 40,000 officers deployed to keep the peace.

The 2024-25 season stats reveal a recovery rate of just eight per cent, with an outgoing of £23.4m met with a repayment from clubs of just £2.1m.

Policing has its costs

“We’re constantly looking at football matches and it may have some effect on that but we are still looking to government to regulate so that the polluter pays, frankly, and at the moment they don’t pay for most of the resources,” Rowley told City Hall.

“It is a big amount of police resources that are going to police football matches so I would like to see that fully reimbursed.

“I know the government is considering it. I don’t know where they have got with it.”

Football clubs would be expected to fight steps to make them pay more, since any changes could hurt clubs which are near-universally loss making already. Games outside the top flight do not always need Special Police Services re-charging.

Added Mayor of London Sadiq Khan: “I have supported the Commissioner in terms of tweaking that could lead to additional resources for London.

“To be fair, a lot of these football clubs do a lot of great work in the community and the legislation means that inside a stadium there are different rules to outside of the stadium. We’re hopeful we can get further support in relation to this important issue.”

Premier League payments?

Joanne McCartney, London Assembly member for Enfield and Haringey, said: “At a time when the Met is already under pressure to deliver vital services, including counter-terrorism policing, we need to make sure its resources are being used where they are needed most.

“It’s time for clubs to pay a fairer share of the policing costs associated with their matches. That burden should not fall on the public, including fans of rival clubs.

“Premier League clubs generate enormous revenues and benefit from the safe environment that police officers help provide. It gives supporters, including families, greater confidence to attend matches. It is only right that clubs contribute towards the cost of keeping supporters and local communities safe.”

The Home Office was approached for comment.