Pompey V Southampton derby cost set to hit £500k, police commissioner reveals
Pompey will meet Southampton again this season - with the cost of policing the two football matches revealed
The cost of policing south coast derby games between rivals Portsmouth and Southampton is set to hit £500,000.
Police and crime commissioner Donna Jones said Hampshire police have set aside the cash for when the Championship sides meet in the new campaign. This is double the £250,000 budgeted for both matches last season.
Speaking at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel on July 8, Ms Jones outlined the cost set to be paid by the police force.
She said: “Unfortunately, Southampton Football Club did not get promoted, so they are in the same league as Portsmouth.
“This means another £500,000 for two football matches – 180 minutes of football.
“These will be played at both grounds over the next year.”
The commissioner can charge each football club £32,000 to contribute toward the high cost. However, they only have to pay for policing their own property.
Ms Jones said: “The majority of the policing operation is leading into the city of Southampton. It is those routes in and out that are as at risk as being in and around the stadium itself.
“Southampton Football Club doesn’t have to pay for anything past the [Ted Bates] statue outside.”
She added: “At Fratton Park in Portsmouth, it’s even worse because Frogmore Road takes you right up to the entrance, and it is a residential street.
“Portsmouth Football Club doesn’t have to pay for any of that either.”
Southampton will face Portsmouth at home on Sunday, October 11, while Portsmouth will then take on Southampton at Fratton Park on February 28, 2027.
Panel members heard that the cost of policing such fixtures, alongside policing recent protests, has cost Hampshire police “a couple of million pounds a year” since 2024.
Ms Jones said: “It is a real drain on our police officers. They are tired, and a lot of them are doing overtime on goodwill. It is expensive.”
Last season saw a major police operation to keep fans apart, with pre-organised travel arrangements put in place for away fans which saw them brought into each city on official coaches which were unloaded at the stadiums so fans could go straight into the away ends.
Several police officers were stationed on roads surrounding St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, and outside the stadium itself in September. A similar approach was taken by officers covering the return match at Fratton Park in January.
Trouble flared at the Portsmouth ground after seats were ripped out of the stands and thrown into the air after full-time, prompting a police investigation. However Hampshire Police hailed its police operations for both matches a success.
Seven men were jailed in 2020 for their involvement in large-scale disorder after the Portsmouth vs Southampton FC Carabao Cup football match on September 24, 2019. They were also handed football banning orders.
Police had to deal with groups of fans acting aggressively and throwing items at officers and other fans outside Fratton Park during the incident, which saw a man punch a police horse.