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Abstract
Several studies stress the importance of thorough knowledge of supporter culture in order to assess the actual level of risk at football matches thereby ensuring a balanced approach by the police in order to avoid conflict situations. This study examines how Danish police officers perceive and categorise football supporters on the basis of a field-based observational study and a qualitative interview study undertaken at the East Jutland Police department in Denmark in the period 2008–2009. The main findings show a general lack of knowledge of supporter culture as well as scepticism towards engaging in dialogue with football supporters. As a consequence of these findings, the East Jutland Police department initiated an educational programme on dialogue policing in 2010. The programme has been successfully evaluated and is now implemented on a national basis.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions to improve the article.
Notes
1. The Edinburgh Agreement (December 1992) was reached at a European Council meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, which granted Denmark four exceptions to the Maastricht Treaty so that it could be ratified by Denmark.
2. ‘Police tactical performance for public order management in connection with international football matches.’ EU memorandum to the Police Cooperation Working Party.