Police influence over schedule of football matches assigned to Wembley

The request was successful.

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

In my experience the Met Police has great influence over the scheduling of club football matches in London. On police advice both the days and times of matches are regularly changed from their original schedule, "on police advice".

My question regards FA Cup and League Play-off games assigned to Wembley this season, and are as follows:

1. Does the Met Police have the same level of influence over the days and times of these games as it does over the London club games?

2. Given that Wembley does not have to be the venue for these games, did the Met Police make representations to the FA regarding its suitability for the cup semi-final involving two Manchester teams?

3. In the event that there is a Play-off final between Cardiff City and Swansea City, will the Met Police make representations to the FA regarding the suitability of Wembley as the venue for this game?

Yours faithfully,

Richard Hunt

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Hunt

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011050002945
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 17/05/2011. I note you seek
access to the following information:

"In my experience the Met Police has great influence over the scheduling
of club football matches in London. On police advice both the days and
times of matches are regularly changed from their original schedule, "on
police advice". My question regards FA Cup and League Play-off games
assigned to Wembley this season, and are as follows:

1. Does the Met Police have the same level of influence over the days and
times of these games as it does over the London club games?
2. Given that Wembley does not have to be the venue for these games, did
the Met Police make representations to the FA regarding its suitability
for the cup semi-final involving two Manchester teams?
3. In the event that there is a Play-off final between Cardiff City and
Swansea City, will the Met Police make representations to the FA
regarding the suitability of Wembley as the venue for this game? "

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
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the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
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Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Peter Deja on telephone number 02071613640 quoting the
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Yours sincerely

Peter Deja
Policy and Support Officer
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For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Hunt

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011050002945

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 17/05/2011. I note you seek
access to the following information:

In my experience the Met Police has great influence over the scheduling of
club football matches in London. On police advice both the days and times
of matches are regularly changed from their original schedule, "on police
advice". My question regards FA Cup and League Play-off games assigned to
Wembley this season, and are as follows:

1. Does the Met Police have the same level of influence over the
days and times of these games as it does over the London club games?

2. Given that Wembley does not have to be the venue for these
games, did the Met Police make representations to the FA regarding its
suitability for the cup semi-final involving two Manchester teams?

3. In the event that there is a Play-off final between Cardiff
City and Swansea City, will the Met Police make representations to the

FA regarding the suitability of Wembley as the venue for this
game?

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within the MPS
to locate information relevant to your request.

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at Central Operations Planning Team

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches failed to locate any information relevant to your request,
therefore, the information you have requested is not held however, I can
assist as follows:

Football matches are private commercial events - the Police do not have a
role in dates/times of Kick Off. If there are, however, public safety
issues (crime and/or disorder), they may make representations to the
Safety Advisory Group, or negotiate with the F.A., etc.

Q1 No, the MPS has very little influence regarding the scheduling of
FA Cup and League Play-offs at Wembley Stadium. I can tell you that the
FA Cup Final for 2012 will take place on 12th May and the MPS had no
influence on this date being set.

Q2 The FA Cup and Championship Playoff games are 'events' held at
Wembley National Stadium just like the 'Take that' concerts in the
Summer. The MPS cannot dictate what 'events' Wembley decide to hold
throughout the year. Wembley Stadium is the 'home' of the FA so
therefore they want their events played at that venue. Once the teams are
known, as part of the Safety Advisory Group, the MPS may make
recommendations regarding how a particular 'event' should be policed, but
not where.

Q3 I cannot answer this question as this game did not take place.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Chris Oliver on telephone number 020 7230 0681 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Chris Oliver
Public Order Information Team
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again –

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).