Manchester (England), Sep 26 (AP) Soccer-related arrests have surged in England and Wales, as reported by the UK government on Thursday. The majority of incidents occurred at West Ham United matches, marking the third consecutive year this club has led in such statistics.

In the 2023-24 season, there were 2,584 football-related arrests, representing a 14% increase from the previous year, according to data released by the Home Office. The rise in arrests was attributed mainly to offences involving class-A drugs and the influence of this year’s European Championship held in Germany.

The arrest rate stood at 5.5 per 100,000 fans attending matches across the top six levels of men’s English soccer, the Welsh league, and the top two levels of women’s soccer. These statistics also encompassed matches involving the England and Wales national teams, the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, and age group competitions.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the UK’s lead officer for soccer policing, emphasized the need to contextualize these figures. “Last season saw around 47 million attendees at men’s domestic and international matches, the highest on record. The vast majority are law-abiding fans who come to support their teams,” he stated. “However, we will persist in collaborating with prosecutors and partners to hold the small number of offending fans accountable.”

Remarkably, there were no arrests at women’s matches despite their rising popularity and attendance. Among incidents connected to Euro 2024, 281 arrests were made within England and Wales, while an additional 126 occurred overseas.

West Ham topped the list with 103 arrests. Manchester City and Manchester United followed closely with 88 arrests each, Arsenal ranked fourth with 85, and Chelsea came in sixth with 67. In terms of banning orders, West Ham also led with 93, followed by Manchester United’s 89. Second-tier Millwall placed third with 82 banning orders.

Banning orders, which can last from three to ten years, are court-issued for various soccer-related offences. The season witnessed 825 new banning orders, the highest since the 2010-11 season. Public disorder was the most common reason for arrest, accounting for 43% of cases, while violent disorder made up 19%. Possession of class-A drugs was responsible for 13% of arrests.

Throwing missiles was reported in 416 matches, and pyrotechnics were noted in 394 matches. Hate crimes were reported in 341 matches, involving issues such as race (226 incidents) and sexual orientation (113 incidents). Online hate crimes totaled 423 incidents.