Football Fan Violence: Euro 2016 Debate

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Department: Home Office

Football Fan Violence: Euro 2016

Keith Vaz Excerpts
Tuesday 14th June 2016

(8 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I see in his place the record-setting, long-serving Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee. I call Mr Keith Vaz.

Keith Vaz Portrait Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is ludicrous to believe that politicians, Ministers or shadow Ministers can control what supporters do at a football match. However, it is a worry, given that more matches are to be played, that flares and other weapons were being taken into stadiums at a time when France is on such a high state of alert. Interpol is 200 miles away from Marseille. What action is being taken to flag up the names and the photographs of those involved with Interpol so that we can ensure that these people cannot travel across borders in the future?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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The right hon. Gentleman mentions stadium security and flares being taken in, and we are discussing with the French police what further steps they can take on security both at and inside the stadium on Thursday. The UK police are working with the French, and with the Russian and Slovakian police—the match on Wednesday will be Russia versus Slovakia in Lille—to ensure that every action is taken to identify and act against troublemakers. Action has been taken against England fans, and there are also some reports about the French authorities taking action against some Russian fans.