UK law enforcement officials have landed in the Irish capital, Dublin, to assist in pinpointing potential trouble-making English football fans who may break travel restrictions to disrupt the weekend’s Republic of Ireland versus England game. The reassurance from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is that these British officers will serve as observers in the city, staying mostly in Garda control rooms where they’ll aid in scrutinising Dublin’s CCTV coverage. They may also support Garda Public Order Units on the ground.
Mr Harris, however, insists that these officers won’t engage in frontline policing duties while in Ireland. He said the British law enforcement officers in Dublin lack jurisdiction and are primarily there to aid Irish law enforcement, notably in identifying anyone disallowed from international travel due to previous misconduct.
England has a policy which bans certain fans from travelling internationally to football games. Even with the Common Travel Area agreement, going to Dublin from the UK would violate such restrictions. This move echoes recent international cooperation where Irish Garda officers were deployed overseas, for instance, to the Paris Olympics; intended to assist nationals in difficulties and aid local policing.
The Nations League match is slated to take place Saturday evening at Avivia Stadium, echoing the 2015 encounter at the same venue that concluded goalless without off-pitch incidents. The 1995 friendly game at the previous Lansdowne Road in Dublin was, however, marred with disruptions from England’s hooligans.
It’s been noted that such disturbances in the past have had significant far-right involvement. Given the recent surge in far-right activity in the UK, including in Southport last month, there are concerns. However, there’s no evidence as per Mr. Harris, of such groups planning to exploit Saturday’s match for discord.
Mr Harris has expressed the readiness of authorities to tackle any threats to public order that could arise, particularly in the light of potential British football hooligans travelling to Dublin. He indicated the game has been classified as an “exceptional event” from a law enforcement perspective, leading to the suspension of annual leave to reinforced security resources – thus ensuring a comprehensive Garda operation could be initiated.
This operation, he explained, would cater not just to the reception of supporters from England but also to maintain order both in the city centre and at the football match itself. Mr Harris emphasised the importance of ensuring safety at the Aviva Stadium, where the majority of the attendees will be fans from Ireland, allowing both arriving and departing fans to safely navigate to the match while ensuring spectators at the venue are free from potential public disturbances or assault.
The Commissioner revealed they have collaborated closely with English police authorities – who run a specialised scheme dedicated to gathering intelligence on football hooliganism – over the past few months. This collaboration ensures they are poised to counter any emerging threats, he stated.
Mr Harris’s statements came during the unveiling of Garda body-worn cameras in Waterford City on Thursday, a technology already in operation in Dublin and Limerick. These devices have proven effective in crime detection, including instances such as drunken drivers attempting to move to the back seats of their cars upon being identified, or individuals attempting to discard drugs as they approach Garda controls.