Football Spotter
Role Purpose
Provides a football policing operation with live and relevant information and intelligence on supporters and acts as a link between the police and a club’s supporter community with a view to increasing trust and confidence between the football operation and the supporter community.
Key Accountabilities
Provide a football policing operation with live and relevant information and intelligence on supporters to support the appropriate deployment of resources by commanders.
Provide a link between the police service and a club’s supporter community to increase trust and confidence between the football operation and the supporter community.
Develop knowledge of a club’s supporter community to improve police understanding of their identities, sensitivities and expectations and increase trust and confidence between the football operation, the supporter community and the local community.
Provide extensive knowledge of the identities, tactics and strategies of “risk supporters” or those who engage in violent disorder and other criminal activity associated with football in order to contribute to the development of operational planning.
Provide a visible crime prevention presence in order to influence desirable crowd behaviour.
Behaviours
All roles are expected to know, understand and act within the ethics and values of the Police Service.
The Competency and Values Framework (CVF) has six competencies that are clustered into three groups. Under each competency are three levels that show what behaviours will look like in practice.
It is suggested that this role should be operating or working towards the following levels of the CVF:
Resolute, compassionate and committed
Inclusive, enabling and visionary leadership
Intelligent, creative and informed policing
Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Prior education and experience:
Experience of policing football operations.
Must have passed the accredited spotters training course delivered by United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU).
Football Spotters must be currently Officer Safety trained as per their individual force policy.
Skills:
Able to identify and report on known or suspected persons or groups involved disorder or antisocial behaviour at football.
Able to identify and report on persons subject to Football banning Orders.
Able to competently use relevant technical equipment, e.g. video camera.
Able to collect, evaluate and disseminate intelligence products.
Sound understanding of the principles and methods associated with intelligence management and covert policing.
Able to demonstrate an awareness of Public Order tactics and national standards.
Good communication skills with the ability to listen to others.
Able to produce concise reports or other documents.
Skilled in the use of use standard IT packages, systems and/or databases to fulfil role requirements.
Able to appropriately prioritise and plan own work.
Able to review own performance objectively and to take steps to maintain and enhance competence and professional standards appropriate to the role.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Keep up to date with changing legislation and current national priorities relating to all key areas within policing and how this may affect you in your role.
Ensure all decision making is in line with the National Decision Model.
Ensure that Case File Management follows current best practice.
Keep up to date with guidance and best practice on vulnerability.
Keep up to date with new approaches to evidence based policing.
Maintain a working knowledge of how technological advances might facilitate offenders in committing crimes and keep up to date with advances in policy, processes and practices used to investigate cybercrime.
Complete all annual and mandatory training including fitness tests, personal safety training and first aid.
Keep up to date with Authorised Professional Practice relevant to your core duties.
Professional Registration/Licenses
Must obtain annual reaccreditation by providing portfolio evidence of: operational competence in carrying out the role of a Football Spotter; attendance at a minimum of two home and two away football matches for the club the individual has responsibility for in the capacity of a football spotter; demonstration of appropriate attitudes and behaviour via the force appraisal process.
Links to other Profiles
NPoCC Mercury Profile – Football Spotter 342 v1