Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006

Part 2 Consequential Amendments

Meaning of “spectator” in Part 1

10 For section 1(6) of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (c. 37) (definition of “authorised spectator”) substitute—

“(6) A person is not to be regarded as a ‘spectator’ in relation to a designated football match if the principal purpose of his being on the premises is to provide services in connection with the match, or to report on it.”

General provisions relating to licences to admit spectators

11 In section 10(17) of that Act (licences to admit spectators: general), for “, the licensing authority or the Football Membership Authority” substitute “or the licensing authority”.

Declarations of relevance

12 In section 23 of that Act (provisions about declarations of relevance), at the end insert—

“(5) In this section ‘declaration of relevance’ means a declaration by a court for the purposes of Schedule 1 to this Act that an offence related to football matches, or that it related to one or more particular football matches.”

Periods relevant to football matches

13 For paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 1 to that Act (meaning of period relevant to a football match) substitute—

“(2) For the purposes of this Schedule each of the following periods is ‘relevant to’ a football match to which this Schedule applies—

(a) in the case of a match which takes place on the day on which it is advertised to take place, the period—

(i) beginning 24 hours before whichever is the earlier of the start of the match and the time at which it was advertised to start; and

(ii) ending 24 hours after it ends;

(b) in the case of a match which does not take place on the day on which it was advertised to take place, the period—

(i) beginning 24 hours before the time at which it was advertised to start on that day; and

(ii) ending 24 hours after that time.”

Amendments of other enactments

14 (1) In each of the enactments specified in sub-paragraph (2), for “declaration of relevance under” substitute “declaration of relevance, within the meaning of section 23 of”.

(2) Those provisions are—

(a) section 50(1)(h) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (c. 19); and

(b) section 108(3) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43).

(3) This paragraph does not apply in relation to declarations made before the commencement of paragraph 12.

15 In section 3 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (c. 23) (functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions), in subsection (2) after paragraph (fa) insert—

“(faa) where it appears to him appropriate to do so, to have the conduct of applications made by him for orders under section 14B of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (banning orders made on complaint);”.