The Emirates Stadium [Arne Müseler_CC BY-SA 3.0]

ARSENAL have been told to consider paying for their own policing after the Met’s top officer argued for football clubs to cover the costs of matchday security.

For the first time, Sir Mark Rowley said Premier League giants should take “a polluter pays approach” and stop relying on the taxpayer to foot the bill to keep fans safe.

It costs £70million to police top league football matches in the UK, a tiny percentage of the hundreds of millions spent on signings and wages during the transfer window.

Last year, policing games at the Emirates Stadium alone cost £1.8million of taxpayers’ money. Critics have contrast that with Arsenal’s shopping spree summer where at least £200 million is expected to be committed to transfers.

Sem Moema, who represents Islington in the London Assembly, said that it was “not right” that clubs rely on the public to cover their security costs.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met’s commissioner

She told the Tribune: “Obviously it is important that people going to the games are safe, but [Mark Rowley] is right to say that football clubs should pay their fair share. There’s a ­difference between somewhere like Arsenal and a club like Leyton, for example. But for clubs that are in the financial position to do so, clubs like Arsenal, they should be paying with their own funds.”

Ms Moema added: “They’re taking people to police football matches rather than be in the neighbourhoods, and I do think that Arsenal should show more good grace to the community and reduce the taxpayer burden.”

Andrew Dismore, a former London Assembly member who has been outspoken about match policing for years, said: “I’ve raised many times how unfair it is that whilst the Met is under such pressure, multibillion-pound private businesses have a free ride.”

He said: “With the amount that they spend on a single footballer’s wages for a week, or transfer fees for one low-ranking player, that would pay for the year’s policing.

Sem Moema

“It is a very unfair exploitation of the public purse by very wealthy club owners.”

Despite Sir Mark’s comments, Mr Dismore said he felt it was unlikely that football clubs would change and voluntarily cover the costs for their security.

He said: “The football clubs have thick skins and huge bank accounts, I can’t see getting that money from the bank account to the police without a change in the law.”

Meanwhile, businesses adjacent to the Emirates Stadium, told the Tribune how the matchday policing felt unfair and, in some cases, simply unnecessary.

Irfan Khan, the store manager at the Tesco Express on Drayton Park, said that matchdays can be hectic and called on the police to do more to protect staff in the store.

He said: “I would like to have police inside the store because on game days it just gets crazy. There are too many people, away fans aren’t really respectful, they don’t get the culture.”

Andrew Dismore

Mr Khan added: “Last week one person came in and loaded up a suitcase full of wine and there’s nothing we can do about it.

“We call the police and they don’t do anything. It’s frustrating that there’s so many police on game day but normally they don’t respond when we ask them for help with shoplifting.”

It is understood some of London’s top clubs believe it is now always appreciated how much money is generated in tax revenue for the public purse by having some of Europe’s elite football being played in the capital.

The Met’s comms team did not expand on Sir Mark’s comments but added this week:“We want everyone to come and enjoy themselves and will act decisively to deal with anyone intent on causing trouble.”

An Arsenal statement said: “We work closely with our local police service and other partners to keep our community safe all year round.

“Through Arsenal in the Community, which celebrates 40 years of service this year, we invest in targeted interventions which help reduce crime and drive social cohesion.

“We’re proud to act for a winning team, community and culture.”