Football Cops

The challenging work of officers from the UK Football Policing Unit across the 2022-23 season, as specialist officers try to root out troublemakers, keep rival fans apart and defuse tensions before they spiral out of control. In the first episode, match day brings a punch-up in a car park and pyros in the stands. Dog handlers are called in when some fans start chucking metal barriers at the police.

The work of the dedicated police officers employed by professional football clubs. In Scunthorpe, Paul is in pursuit of the person who threw a flare in the stands which hit an 11-year-old on the head. Macca is busy keeping two aggressive groups of fans apart at the Walsall v Crew game, and in Ipswich, Roly has to get the team bus through a jubilant crowd with pyrotechnics burning all around.

As England take on Germany in the Nations League, the team work with German police to stop the drunken revelry getting out of control as England fans enjoy the sunshine and beer. In Italy, robust policing leaves England fans injured as the Football Cops try to help fans caught in the middle and administer first aid. And in Malta, the Football Cops turn their attentions to apprehending a known drug dealer.

It's the end of season play-offs. Bradford play Carlisle, and Salford head to Stockport with a chance of promotion. The Football Cops know that, with so much at stake, there could be trouble so keeping rival fans apart throughout the day is their top priority. With both matches rated high risk, National Football Cops Stu and Wayne are also there to lend a hand. In Carlisle, there are arrests even before the fans get into the ground and at Wembley the Football Cops are busy keeping rival fans apart for the FA Cup Final between Man Utd and Man City. But when the Lionesses play Brazil the mood is very different. Back in Carlisle, fans breach the segregation line under the stands and the football cops have to break up a running battle in the tunnels. The day ends with mass pitch invasions at both matches, with the police having to protect players and officials.