New police operation backed by Blackpool FC to tackle misogyny in football

What is Operation Holcroft?

Operation Holcroft is Lancashire Police’s new initiative to help tackle violence and misogyny against women and girls at professional football games across the county.

The new scheme will deploy a range of policing tactics to make it clear that sexist, abusive and predatory behaviour has no place in the game.

All six of Lancashire’s EFL sides- including Blackpool FC and Fleetwood Town- have signed up to Operation Holcroft and will help to raise awareness of acceptable behaviour at matches.

How will it work?

Posters, fliers and other marketing tools will be used to help spread the word about Operation Holcroft onto the terraces.

Additionally, Officers, stewards and matchday staff will receive extra guidance on recognising, reporting and responding to incidents, ensuring victims receive the support they need and offenders face the consequences of their actions.

Report networks will also be improved, and there will be an increased police effort to prosecute suspected guilty individuals.

What did the experts say?

Chief Inspector Mark Douglas, Head of Operation Holcroft, told the Gazette:

“What we want from this operation is that those who are likely to have those misogynistic attitudes will know that it's unacceptable. They will know that there are consequences for their actions.

“Equally, I want those who experience misogyny and other kinds of behaviour to know that we will deal with this, we will take it seriously..

“I'm very pleased that we have an excellent team of professionals in football clubs across Lancashire who, like us, are absolutely committed to making sure that those attending a football fixture, working at a football ground or even playing on the pitch can have a safe and enjoyable day.

“Do I think that misogyny is absolutely widespread at our football clubs? No. But are there people who will commit those offences, display those attitudes and make people just trying to have a good day out feel uncomfortable? Yes, and they're the people that we want to target, they're the people that we want to deal with.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said:

“Misogyny is the abuse of women. It's a power tool for coercive control, and we need to do something both within football and society to make football a safe space for women to come along.

“We went out and we did a survey to listen to the voices of women and girls. We got nearly 5,000 responses, and over 90% of those said that women and girls felt unsafe in public spaces, that they felt intimidated by some of the intrusive staring and catcalling.

“Football is, in many ways, a conduit for getting the message out there. Young people won't necessarily listen to what I say, but when they've got people within their football club, the team that they support, saying that, it's a great way of getting young people involved.

“That is why we've got this campaign and why we've got the support of all the football clubs, which I think have been absolutely fantastic.”

Speaking on behalf of Blackpool FC, Natalie Gradwell, Ground Safety Officer at Bloomfield Road, added:

“We’d be naive to say that abuse doesn’t happen. I’m sure it probably happens more than reported as well, which is what our key message with this is.

“We just want to encourage that more so we can help people and that it’s not something that they do have to put up with whilst we’re here and encourage that welcoming and safe environment for everyone.”

“I hope that we become more aware, we learn from these incidents if and when they occur, of how to deal with them better, what sort of trends we’re seeing that we can maybe eradicate, and hopefully completely eradicate it from Bloomfield Road and further than that.”