West Brom fans 'among best behaved in Premier League'
West Bromwich Albion fans are among the best behaved in the Premier League, according to figures from the British Transport Police.
The transport police was called to nine offences Baggies fans in one season. This was out of 233 incidents involving Premier League clubs.
The club came 13th in a list of Premier League club said to have the 'worst culprits for hooliganism' by the transport police.
Top was West Ham, with 23 offences involving club supporters were recorded. Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea came joint second, with 21 incidents each.
In total, the BTP recorded 2,030 offences over the 2015/16 season - an increase from the year before of four per cent, and the first rise in 10 years.
A BTP spokesman said: "Unfortunately, on football match days, law-abiding members of the public and rail staff are subjected to abusive, obscene and sometimes racially offensive chanting, as well as display of violent behaviour."
The three most common football-related offences are public disorder, 60 per cent, alcohol offences, 20 per cent, and violent disorder, 16 per cent.
Among all football-related arrests during the season 2015/16, two in 10 were made by British Transport Police.
The spokesman said: "We adopt a proactive approach to football policing, with officers escorting trains before and after matches and patrolling stations where large numbers of fans are expected.
"Fixed penalty notices are not used for football-related offences, making sure that offenders are charged with the most serious offences their conduct warrants."
Among the reported offences involving West Bromwich Albion fans were incidents of disorderly behaviour, affray and grievous bodily harm.
The grievous bodily harm incident took place on September 19, 2015 - a tie against Aston Villa in Birmingham.
A male was waiting for a train when he saw a group of rival fans known to him.
After exchanging football chants, the train arrived, and it was alleged that the group of supporters punching the victim, resulting in a fractured jaw.
In the return fixture on January 23, a man ran across the railway tracks.
The figures were provided by www.ticketgum.com
