Information about the role of an operational football officer, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
An operational football officer is a specialist operations position within the operational support sector of policing. It's a service deliverer role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The operational football officer (OFO) attends football events, both home and away fixtures, as part of the operational tactical plan. They work collaboratively to combat issues such as crime, violence and disorder associated with events at the club(s). They develop a detailed understanding of the local geographical community and the supporter base for the club through communication and information and intelligence gathering.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Providing a football policing operation with live and relevant information and intelligence on supporters to support the appropriate deployment of resources by commanders.
- Providing a link between the police service and a club’s supporter community to increase trust and confidence between the football operation and the supporter community.
- Developing knowledge of a club’s supporter community to improve police understanding of their identities, sensitivities and expectations and increase trust and confidence between the football operation, the supporter community and the local community.
- Providing extensive knowledge of the identities, tactics and strategies of “risk supporters” or those who engage in disorder and other criminal activity associated with football to contribute to the development of operational planning.
- Providing a visible policing presence to influence desirable crowd behaviour.
Competencies, values and core skills
The competency and values framework (CVF) provides clear expectations for everyone working in policing. It describes the behaviours required by police officers and staff to be effective in their roles and uphold the Code of Ethics for policing.
Competencies
The CVF has six competencies, which are split into levels. These levels can be used flexibly to allow for a better fit with frontline and non-frontline policing roles, and at different levels of seniority. This ensures that there is consistency throughout all the policing professional profiles. Some roles may contain different CVF levels due to the specialist nature of the role. Those working at higher levels should also fulfil the requirements of the lower levels.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following competencies.
- We are emotionally aware – Level 1: practitioner
- We take ownership – Level 1: practitioner
- We collaborate – Level 1: practitioner
- We support and inspire – Level 1: practitioner
- We analyse critically – Level 1: practitioner
- We are innovative and open-minded – Level 1: practitioner
Values
The CVF has three values that apply to everyone in policing, regardless of their role or seniority.
Core skills
All roles in policing have nine core skills in common. These are split into levels that represent the different levels of policing. This role should be operating at or working towards the following core skills.
- Communicating and influencing – Level 1
- Problem solving – Level 1
- Performance management – Level 1
- Relationship management – Level 1
- Change management – Level 1
- Managing people – Level 1
- Managing resources – Level 1
- Planning – Level 1
- Use of IT – Level 1
Education, qualifications and experience
Previous education, qualifications and experience
- Passed the current OFO training course delivered by United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU).
- Capable of independent patrol as per own force guidelines.
- Level 3 public order public safety (POPS) trained to the standards described in G1 of the national police public order public safety training curriculum (NPPOPSTC).
- Completed College of Policing POPS core themes e-learning.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development (CPD) enables everyone in policing to develop and gain recognition for their professional skills, knowledge and competence. CPD ensures that we continue to provide high-quality policing to keep the public safe and help to drive career aspirations. Discussion of CPD is usually included as part of professional development review (PDR) conversations.
Learning and accreditation
- Successfully complete POPS core themes e-learning every three years.
- Must obtain annual reaccreditation by providing portfolio evidence of operational competence in carrying out the role of OFO, attendance at a minimum of two home and two away football matches for the club the individual has responsibility for in the capacity of a football spotter and demonstration of appropriate attitudes and behaviour via the force appraisal process.
- Complete all core training and learning required by the force.
- Any exemptions to learning and accreditation requirements are at chief constable discretion, in line with the local force policy.
Professional development
This role should consider the following CPD:
- keeping up to date with changing legislation and current national priorities relating to all key areas within policing and how this may affect the role
- ensuring all decision-making is in line with the national decision model (NDM)
- ensuring that case file management follows current best practice
- keeping up to date with guidance and best practice on vulnerability, safeguarding and violence against women and girls (VAWG)
- keeping up to date with new approaches to evidence-based policing
- maintaining a working knowledge and understanding of new and evolving crime threats and priorities and current best practice to tackle these to enable a proactive and preventative approach to football policing
- maintaining an up-to-date understanding of College of Policing guidance, regulations, best practice and any local policy applicable to football policing
- keeping up to date with the football operational advice document
Related roles
You can find other service deliverer roles in the: