Sports clubs attack police chief

South Wales Police covered the recent Cardiff City v Arsenal FA Cup tie

Top sports clubs have accused South Wales Police's chief constable of being "inaccurate" and "provocative" about charging event organisers for policing.

Barbara Wilding says organisers of events at major sporting venues should pay for policing outside the ground.

The force said costs could be minimised by organisers taking a "robust" approach to event safety and security.

But Cardiff City FC, Cardiff Blues RFC Millennium Stadium and Liberty Stadium bosses want more clarification.

They say it would discourage events from coming to south Wales.

Ms Wilding said a the force is facing a �9m funding gap this year and up to �14m next year.

She has warned that, as a result, unless the force receives more funding, it will charge major sporting and pop promoters the full amount for policing costs outside the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

These would include pop concerts, football and rugby matches.

She said the practice of charging events organisers was approved in England in 2005 and she was bringing the force into line.

But the sports clubs, along with the Millennium Stadium and Swansea's Liberty Stadium, have joined forces against the plans.

After a meeting, their representatives released a joint statement in which they pointed out that guidance given to chief constables in a Home Office circular shows that the stadium or event organiser are responsible for the cost of all police officers on duty within, or on stadium property.

Chief constable Barbara Wilding said the force was facing a funding deficit

But the circular also says that the stadium or organiser does not have to meet any costs arising from policing the streets and public places around the venue.

They said: "Whilst we acknowledge the demands placed on policing resources arising from the need to police areas around stadia and in city centres arising from events we do not agree that the chief constable has any authority to impose the cost of policing outside a venue on a stadium or event organiser."

They added: "The present position is that we believe some of the statements made by the chief constable have been both inaccurate and provocative and have the potential to discourage event organisers from considering the South Wales venues for their event.

"On this basis we seek clarification in this matter"

The Welsh Rugby Union also met to discuss the matter on Thursday.

It is understood they looked at a number of options, including reducing the amount of money it invests into rugby, charging more to customers buying tickets and focusing only on rugby and not staging other events at the stadium.

It is understood the latter would be the preferred option.

Business leaders in Cardiff say jobs could be at risk if concerts, such as the two sell-out shows Take That are staging in the stadium in June, are no longer held in the city.

Event promoters have also warned that large concerts could be staged outside Wales.

South Wales Police said it was important to highlight that amounts payable for special policing would be determined "though a process of negotiation between both parties".

In a statement, the force added: "The necessary policing requirements for an event will vary according to the proportionate threat of risk or harm to the public attending that event.

"To this end, event organisers can reduce their need for special policing services by taking a robust approach to their own security and safety measures."

But it said if agreements could not be reached over policing levels and costs, it could threaten the granting of safety certificates for events.

The force said policing "footprints"' of events may mean that special policing, critical to the safety of event-goers, may be needed outside venues.

Officers worked on rest days to cover major events and needed to be reimbursed.