People who abuse Premier League stars online could be hit with football banning orders after the Crown Prosecution Service vowed to step up their efforts to battle hate crimes.
Hate-filled messages have become an increasing problem on social media, with footballers facing racism, homophobia and death threats. The issue reached breaking point last year, when clubs, players, leagues and media organisations took part in a four-day social media blackout to protest the lack of action against abusers.
But despite that, precious little has been done by social media companies in particular to stamp out hate. And the CPS are now taking matters into their own hands, by beefing up the sanctions that they can pursue against anyone found to have committed a hate crime online.
The organisation has announced that they will now begin to use football banning orders against those convicted of online hate crime connected to the game. That will prevent them from preventing matches for as long as 10 years.
The CPS claims that the new orders will allow prosecutors to ask the courts to hand down tougher penalties to abusers online. The provisions could see banning orders given for abuse involving racism or other hateful messaging.
Banning orders were previously only permitted to be handed out to those who have committed offences in person, rather than online. The Mirror have previously revealed that certain abuse committed at football matches will be treated as a hate crime.
And these additional orders will mean that prosecutors can ask for a sentence uplift due to the aggravated nature of a hate crime as a result. With the problem of online abuse an increasing issue, the CPS will take a hardline stance to combat it.
They will instruct their prosecutors to seek banning orders in all circumstances in which they are available. And the lead sports prosecutor for the CPS, Douglas Mackay, believes that the new orders can help to successfully combat the rising level of hate crimes.
“Football banning orders are one of the many tools available to the justice system for imposition on offenders who are convicted of crimes related to our national game. This new CPS legal guidance gives prosecutors wider authority to request banning orders from the courts," Mackay said.
"It is another consequence for those guilty of shameful behaviour. Over recent years and months hate crimes relating to sporting events have been on the rise. The recent internal UK Football Policing Unit mid-season report has shown a significant rise in football-related criminality compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“At the CPS, we play a crucial role in tackling these crimes and making our national sport inclusive and safe to watch. There is no place for hate in football. Hate crime can have a profound impact on victims.”
The CPS are now working with the police, football clubs, player bodies and the Premier League to explain how cases that will successfully lead to cases being brought in court can be built.
