FOOTBALL fans run a gauntlet of crime heading to games — with 869,005 offences reported outside Premier League grounds in the past ten years.
Newcastle’s St James’s Park was worst hit with 137,251 crimes recorded.
Arsenal were next with 92,661 followed by Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge on 71,758, Spurs on 68,939 and Southampton on 57,700.
Safest was Brighton’s Amex Stadium, with 2,315 offences recorded within a one kilometre radius.
Website scams.info, which exposes online criminality, carried out research using police data.
Spokesman Aiden Howe said: “Away fans face a heightened risk of being the target of football-related violence and other criminality.
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“And large crowds attract criminals such as pickpockets and muggers.
“Our figures are shocking but sadly indicate the areas outside grounds are hotbeds of crime.”
Most offences are committed on match days, though the figures also include non-match days.
During the survey period Spurs, West Ham and Brentford moved grounds.
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Figures include both the old and new stadiums, but the Spurs stats did not include two seasons playing at Wembley while their new ground was being built.
Most offences close to Prem grounds
- 137,251 – St James’s Park, Newcastle United
- 92,661 – Emirates Stadium, Arsenal
- 71,758 – Stamford Bridge, Chelsea
- 68,939 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham
- 57,700 – St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
