United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU)

The Director of the UKFPU is responsible for ensuring that the overall remit of the unit is fulfilled, including coordinating all international policing demands across the UK, managing intelligence and operational deployment of officers to support overseas operations. The UKFPU also coordinate all 43 Home Office forces in their approach to tackling violence and disorder as it affects football events. 

Director Michael Johnson has extensive experience in the planning and preparation of major tournaments, having led the UKFPU throughout those held in Brazil (World Cup 2014), France (Euro’s 2016), Russia (World Cup 2018) Europe (Euro’s 2021) and Qatar (World Cup 2022).

Before joining the UKFPU in 2014, Michael served for 34 years in the Metropolitan Police Service. While in the police, Michael was responsible for delivering the policing operation for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. This necessitated having responsibility for over 10,000 staff, planning and deployment throughout the entire operation, and having overall accountability for the delivery of the policing operation in London.

Throughout his career in the police, Michael was involved in delivering numerous high profile public order events, including the Notting Hill Carnival, New Year’s Eve Celebration in Trafalgar Square, as well as protests involving thousands of participants.

As Deputy Director of the UKFPU, Adrian supports the UKFPU Director, Michael Johnsoni n the strategic management of the UKFPU.

Specifically, Adrian leads on the unit’s collaboration with its European counterparts, as Vice Chair of the European Group of Policing Football and NFIP Experts (European Think Tank), and as the UK Head of Delegation at the T-S4 Standing Committee of the Council of Europe.

He also has extensive experience of coordinating overseas UK policing deployments around England football fixtures; together with oversight of the planning and preparation of major tournaments, having led the domestic UKFPU national policing coordination Russia (World Cup 2018) and Europe (Euros 2020), along with the ‘in-country’ operations in The Hague (Euros 2021) and Qatar (World Cup 2022).

Before joining the UKFPU in 2017, Adrian was the Head of Safety and Security at Crystal Palace Football Club, where he gained a valuable understanding of football safety and security operations from the view of a Premiership football club. He then became a safety and security consultant, delivering presentations/training/advice to senior police officers and strategic managers home and abroad in public order, command and control and spectator safety at large sporting events (including football matches); together with conducting peer safety/security reviews, including Wembley National Stadium and the London (Olympic) Stadium.

Adrian retired from the Metropolitan Police in 2014 as one of the countries most experienced public order commanders, having commanded numerous high-profile events at all levels; including large scale demonstrations, major safety/security operations, and local/force-wide football operations. Most notably, as Commander for the Central London Zone of the 2012 London Olympic & Paralympic Games, he led the tactical delivery across seven sporting venues, an 80,000 concert ‘live site’ and a series of ‘Games related’ venues such as Buckingham Palace and official reception venues.

In 2011, he led the Met's tactical response for both the TUC March & Rally, which was attended by up to 500,000 people, and the August 'London riots' which spread across 25 of London’s 32 boroughs.

As Deputy Director of the UKFPU, Paul supports UKFPU Director, Michael Johnson in the strategic management of the UKFPU.

Specifically, Paul leads the oversight of the Football Banning Orders Authority (FBOA), the development and emergence of women's leagues and competitions, and the national police training of Dedicated and Operational Football Officers. He also has a significant role in the unit’s collaboration with domestic safety and security partners such as the FA, Premier League, English Football League, Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) and Football Supporters Association (FSA).

Paul has extensive experience of coordinating overseas UK policing deployments around England and Wales football fixtures having worked operationally in over 25 countries. He has contributed positively through a varied and extensive involvement in the last seven consecutive major football World Cup and European Championship tournaments. He has  also led on the domestic UKFPU national policing coordination for The Women’s European Championships 2022 and the forthcoming Men’s European Championship 2024 in Germany.

Prior to this, Paul has 25 years’ service with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, primarily planning football and large-scale events. Paul is the holder of a Batchelor of Science Honours Degree in Sports Management and a Level 4 NVQ qualification in Spectator Safety Management. His work has provided a unique insight into football safety and security management at a strategic and tactical level and has led him being a contributing member of the European ‘Think Tank’ of Sports Safety expert’s group since 2018 on behalf of the UK.

National Football Information Points (NFIPs) are the designated channel for the international exchange of police information, intelligence and risk assessments.

The UKFPU is the NFIP for the UK, covering all clubs and national teams of the Home Nations, which includes UEFA and FIFA competitions, and pre-season friendlies.

The NFIP acts as the central and sole contact point for the exchange of relevant information for football matches with an international dimension, and for developing international police cooperation in pursuit of improved safety and security in football.

The UKFPU coordinates police deployments overseas when the English or Welsh national teams play.

More information is available:

• FCO travel advice

FA websites on both England and Wales forthcoming fixtures:

• English FA
• Welsh FA

The Football Banning Orders Authority (FBOA) is housed within the UKFPU, and is the enforcing body for all matters relating to Football Banning Orders (FBO’s).

FBO’s are an effective tool in preventing football related violence and disorder, both domestically and abroad; and are obtained either post-conviction or ‘on application’ to a Magistrates Court. For an FBO to be granted, the court must be satisfied that the making of a FBO would help prevent violence or disorder at or in connection with any regulated football match in the UK.

FBOA deals with all football banning orders issued by courts in England and Wales, as well as the surrender of passports for football matches involving UK domestic and international teams when playing outside the UK.

These forms are not fully accessible. Contact the UKFPU [email protected] if you need an alternative format.

• Exemption application form 
• Application to change names police station 
• Change of address form 

In 1988, there was widespread disorder at the European Football Championships held in the then West Germany. English fans clashed with German fans on a number of occasions. In Düsseldorf, there were three days of continuous rioting, resulting in over 130 arrests. The Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher, directed that the Government had to take a proactive stance to tackle the issues.

Disorder by supporters was seen as an ‘English disease’ and had a lasting effect on the way UK football supporters were seen abroad. The Government introduced a raft of legislation over the following years aimed at tackling the rise in disorder, as well as looking towards the police to take a proactive operational lead on introducing tactics and structures to combat the issues.  

Policing, through the then Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead, introduced the role of a Football Intelligence Officer (FIO) across several forces. However, it was soon evident that there was a need for a more national approach domestically, as well as the need to coordinate activity when overseas.

The National Football Intelligence Unit (NFIU) was formed in 1989. The unit sat under the ACPO lead and was funded by the Home Office, with the primary aim of coordinating the intelligence and information flows between forces FIO’s across the country. These dedicated roles were supported by other officers on a more ad hoc basis, and these were called spotters.

In 1992, a review was conducted of how national intelligence was managed across a range of functions and policing areas, and the National Criminal Intelligence Service was formed. In April the NFIU became part of NCIS. The unit consisted of police officers and civil servants who were seconded to the team as part of central service agreements, and although not directed operationally by the Home Office, they had close links and were funded by them. This continued for some years and the team and the structures began to have an impact on disorder issues.

In 2005 there was another review of national intelligence structures and it was decided to replace NCIS with a new organisation, and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) was formed. It was also later decided that a name change was needed to reflect the wider role that the football unit was fulfilling, and the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) was formed on 5 November 2005.

In 2013 SOCA was dissolved and the National Crime Agency (NCA) was formed. However, on this occasion it was decided that the UKFPU did not come within the terms of reference for the new non-governmental body, and therefore the unit transferred to the Home Office, sitting under the Public Order Team originally and latterly under the Neighbourhood Crime Team.

During this time, the role of the FIO was further enhanced to recognise the community type of approach that was being used to understand and communicate with supporters. As a result, the FIO title was changed to ‘Dedicated Football Officer’ and the 'spotters' role was changed to ‘Operational Football Officer. ‘

The role of the unit developed throughout this period, and the operational involvement (mainly in relation to overseas deployments of the England and Wales international teams) led to a review by the Home Office. The decision was made that the unit should transfer back to policing, and in April 2023 it was moved to sit under the National Police Chiefs’ Council and its operational arm, the National Police Coordinating Centre based in London.

The unit has had many highlights throughout its existence:

• Introduction of the football specific legislation, especially the Football (Disorder) Act 2000, that introduced a raft of amendments to the banning order legislation to make it effective and a tangible deterrent to violence and disorder. The team undertook training and ensured effective implementation across all forces on a national basis.
• The setting up and running of the Football Banning Order Authority, which sits within the team and undertakes a pivotal role in enforcing the legislation.
• Driving and introducing change across Europe by being an active and influential member of the EU and Council of Europe working groups, introducing a consistency of approach that benefits all in the football world.
• The deployment of uniform police officers from the UK to the World Cup in Germany in 2006. This was one of the first such deployments and paved the way for the current system that now operates throughout the world. This was one of the largest overseas deployments and was hailed by many as a pivotal turning point in tackling disorder by English supporters.

Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request.

Email: [email protected]