Police chiefs have warned against a repeat of the “significant disorder” that accompanied England’s World Cup victory over Sweden, saying there were 387 incidents across the country leading to 70 arrests.

They said the “worrying level of mostly alcohol-related disorder” stretched forces’ resources on Saturday and compared it to the trouble-free celebrations enjoyed by England fans in Russia.

Police accepted it was only a minority of those celebrating England’s 2-0 win in the quarter-final, taking the Three Lions to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990, who were involved.

Among incidents listed by police were:

Significant damage to an ambulance in London Bridge.

Two people arrested in Northampton, where “crowds caused disturbances, resulting in road closures while officers dealt with the disorder”.

A road blocked by hundreds of people and flares set off in a Leicestershire street.

People clambering on to the roofs of buses and blocking roads in Southampton.

Celebrations in Nottingham that led to “extensive criminal damage” to a taxi.

People climbing on to bus shelters and vehicles in Bridlington, Hull and Cleethorpes.

A man who jumped off a double-decker bus and crashed through a bus shelter roof.



Mark Roberts, the head of football policing for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which represents 44 forces across England and Wales, said: “Saturday’s match was a great day for England and it’s right to celebrate it. The vast majority of fans do that without committing criminal and antisocial behaviour.

“It is incredibly disheartening to see more than 300 incidents of alcohol-fuelled disorder from a minority of mindless individuals.

“This behaviour has real consequences. Numerous roads across the country were blocked, stopping emergency vehicles getting to people in need, and an ambulance is now off the road while being repaired.

“Shops were damaged, people were abused and assaulted and others climbed on buses and cars, causing damage to vehicles and in some cases, themselves.”

Roberts compared the excellent behaviour by England fans in Russia with those back home. “This is in stark contrast to the fans out in Russia, whose behaviour, apart from a couple of minor incidents, has been great,” he said.

Police resources are stretched because of increased demand, a situation exacerbated by the warm weather and a big mobilisation for Donald Trump’s visit to the UK.

“There is absolutely no excuse for this type of senseless behaviour. Emergency services resources are already stretched,” said Roberts.

“We want people to celebrate and enjoy themselves, but not at the expense of law-abiding fans and emergency services’ resources.”

World Cups and major football tournaments can lead to spikes in some types of criminal offending.

Across England and Wales, there have been 1,086 football-related incidents since the tournament began in mid-June, with 226 domestic abuse-related incidents and 230 arrests.

England play Croatia on Wednesday evening, with police on the alert for any further trouble.