Supporter Behaviour Policy

Expected Standards of Behaviour

Supporters must:

• respect the dignity of others when attending/travelling to the Club’s matches and when using online / social media platforms. The club takes a zero tolerance approach to discriminatory, abusive, threatening or violent behaviour towards other supporters/attendees, volunteers, players, coaching staff, match officials and/or anybody else connected with the Club;
• comply with any ticket terms & conditions and ground regulations that are published either within the Club’s website, matchday programme and/or anywhere else around the Club’s stadium;
• follow steward, police, or club staff instructions/actions at all times and not attempt to prevent any of these individuals from carrying out their duties;
• not enter the playing field and/or any other restricted areas without authorisation;
• not use pyrotechnics, smoke bombs, flares, or similar prohibited devices;
• not throw objects on to the pitch;
• not bring any unauthorised items into the Club’s stadium on matchdays (such as alcohol, illegal substances, musical instruments, weapons etc); and
• not damage property or risk the safety of others.

Categories of Misconduct

For the purpose of this policy, “misconduct” is classified into two levels, albeit the examples referred to below are non-exhaustive and the Club reserves the right to consider any other instances of unacceptable behaviour within each level of misconduct.

Level 1 Offences

Repeated use of foul, insulting and/or abusive language/chanting at West matches (non-discriminatory); persistent standing in unauthorised areas; bringing prohibited items into the Club on matchdays; minor or inadvertent property damage; other cases of minor misbehaviour at West matches (as determined by the club on a case-by-case basis).

Level 2 Offences

Discriminatory conduct either online or at West matches (i.e. unwanted conduct / less favourable treatment related to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 – being age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy/maternity, marriage/civil partnership, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment); harassing or demonstrating violent or threatening behaviour towards other supporters, volunteers, stewards, players, coaches or match officials either online or at West matches; entering the pitch without authorisation at any point during a matchday; preventing or attempting to prevent any steward or club official from carrying out their duties; use of unauthorised pyrotechnics; throwing any objects on the pitch in a manner intended to cause harm; possession or use of any illegal drugs; any actions which cause a match to be abandoned; other cases of serious misbehaviour at West matches (as determined by the club on a case-by-case basis).

Incident Reporting

Stewards, police, staff, or supporters may report incidents. Methods of reporting will be evaluated over time but, at present, supporters are encouraged to report any incidents covered by this policy to the nearest steward and/or club official wearing a high-vis jacket. If supporters wish to report any incidents after a match has taken place, they are encouraged to do so via email to enquiries@wdcfc.co.uk. Any further methods of incident reporting will be published as they become available.

Procedure

1. Investigation – The club will conduct an investigative review of reported incidents within a reasonable timescale and without any unnecessary delay. This may involve collecting witness statements from those present and considering other evidence such as photos, audio recordings, videos and/or any other relevant materials. Where identified, alleged perpetrators will be notified and invited to respond either in writing or at a hearing.
2. Hearing - If the alleged perpetrator elects to attend a hearing, they will be offered two weekday evening time slots to attend and will be given the opportunity to attend either remotely (via Microsoft Teams / equivalent) or at Club’s home stadium. If they cannot attend either time slot and the Club is unable to facilitate any alternative time slot suggested by the alleged perpetrator, they will instead only be entitled to rely on written representations. Any individuals required to attend a hearing of this nature can request to be accompanied by one other person providing that they give two days’ notice of who that person will be. Details of who this confirmation should be provided to will be included in any hearing invitation letter. The Club shall not unreasonably reject any request to be accompanied.
3. Panel Deliberation - A panel will convene and review the evidence collected to determine a) whether or not to uphold any allegations of misconduct (based on the balance of probabilities) and, if applicable, b) what that sanction should be in light of any aggravating/mitigating factors. The panel will consist of between three and five individuals. This will include senior club officials (e.g. Club Chair, Club Secretary, Board Director, Match Day Coordinator, Supporter Liaison Officer etc.) and at least one individual who is not a director / committee member / volunteer of the club. Either the Club Chair or the Club Secretary will chair the panel.
   A simple majority (i.e. >50% of the panel) is required to issue a sanction. In the absence of a simple majority, no sanction shall be issued. Once it has been determined whether or not a sanction will be issued, a majority decision will be sought in respect of what sanction should be issued. In the absence of any kind of majority, the panel chair will decide the sanction that should be implemented.
4. Decision – Following the panel’s deliberations, a written notice containing the general nature and circumstances of the matter together with the decided outcome will be sent to the accused as soon as is reasonably possible along with details of the right to appeal any sanction.
5. Appeal Process – Appeals must be submitted within fourteen days of the sanction being issued. If an appeal is issued, an appeal procedure will be followed which will procedurally mirror the above (i.e. the alleged perpetrator will be invited to an appeal hearing and the matter will be considered a panel of between three and five individuals, one of which will be a person who is not a board member / committee member or volunteer of the Club). No individuals who formed part of the initial panel will form the panel to decide any appeal. Any appeal will be considered within a reasonable timescale. Should an appeal not be submitted within the allotted time, it will not be considered further and the original sanction shall stand. Written notification of the outcome of the panel hearing to be sent to the individual as soon as is reasonably possible.
6. Enforcement - Sanctions will be enforced via ticketing, stewarding, and, if strictly necessary, identity checks.

Sanctions

If any allegations of misconduct are upheld, the Club endeavours to ensure that any sanctions issued are proportionate to the offence that has been committed. The Club will consider any aggravating or mitigating factors when deciding on a sanction, as per the section below.

The Club will also consider the use of any educational / restorative measures before issuing any sanction that goes beyond a verbal warning.

• For any Level 1 offences (as per the above 'Categories of Misconduct' section):
  
  Minimum sanction: verbal warning
  Maximum sanction: a ban for 3 competitive home matches for either/both of the Club’s senior teams.
  Other sanctions within this range include (but are not limited to) ejection from the stadium, behavioural contract between the supporter and the Club, suspension of season ticket or membership, written warning, a ban for between 1 and 3 competitive matches.
  
  
• For any Level 2 offences:
  
  Minimum sanction: a ban for 3 competitive home matches for either/both of the Club’s senior teams.
  Maximum sanction: a lifetime ban from any of the Club’s home matches for either/both of its senior teams.
  Other sanctions within this range include (but are not limited to): a ban for any other length that the Club deems appropriate within this range.

Individuals can be issued with a Level 2 sanction without having ever received a Level 1 sanction. Each allegation of misconduct will be considered on its own merits and the existence (of lack thereof) or any previous sanction will be relevant only insofar as that it could be an aggravating/mitigating factor.

The Club also reserves the right to contact the police in respect of any Level 1 or Level 2 misconduct.

Aggravating & Mitigating Factors

If the Club are satisfied that any Level 1 or Level 2 offence has occurred, the Club will consider any aggravating or mitigating factors when deciding what sanction to issue.

Aggravating Factors:

• Discriminatory motivations behind any offence(s).
• Actions that involve violence or the threat of violence.
• Repeat or persistent misconduct.
• Sanction previously issued under this policy.
• Conduct that interferes with the match and requires the game to be stopped.
• Conduct which results in the FA or the NWCFL taking any formal action against the Club.

Mitigating Factors:

• First offence.
• Non-violent and/or non-discriminatory conduct.
• Early admission of wrongdoing.
• Co-operation with any investigation(s) carried out by the Club and/or any other appropriate body.
• Sincere apology / expression of remorse.
• Willingness to engage with any education or restorative measures suggested by the Club.

General

• Any processes covered by this policy will be conducted in accordance with the Club’s safeguarding and data protection policies. Copies of these can be requested from the Club at enquiries@wdcfc.co.uk.
• The Club warrants that it shall consider any reasonable adjustments that can be made to support any individuals with disabilities and/or any other additional needs who are involved in any procedure under this policy. If any such individual requires adjustments, they are encouraged to raise these at an early stage and the Club shall consider and not unreasonably deny any adjustments that are requested. The Club reserves the right to request any medical evidence that supports any request for reasonable adjustments, if necessary.
• Anonymised outcomes of sanctions may be communicated publicly at the Club’s discretion. 
• This policy will be reviewed at the end of every season and after any major incident. Updates will involve consultation with supporter groups, local authorities, and safety officers.