Fed member says jailing racist fan sends out ‘strong message’

14 December 2023

A West Midlands Police Federation member who was publicly praised by Rio Ferdinand after the former Manchester United player was racially abused says jailing the offender ‘sends the most powerful message’.

PC Stuart Ward, who was the first ever football hate crime officer to be appointed in the UK, led an investigation after Rio was racially abused by Wolverhampton Wanderers fan Jamie Arnold.

Rio was working for BT Sport (now TNT Sports) covering the match between Manchester United and Wolves at Molineux Stadium in 2021 when Arnold hurled racial gestures and comments at the pundit.

Following reports of the crime, Arnold was swiftly removed from the stadium and arrested. A jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court found him unanimously guilty and on Friday (8 December), the 32-year-old was jailed for six months and given a seven year football banning order, preventing him from attending any football match anywhere in the UK.

PC Stuart Ward.

“Ultimately, Arnold being jailed sends the most powerful message. It will demonstrate to other offenders that this will not be tolerated. I hope it will act as a very strong deterrent,” said 37-year-old Stuart, who’s been in the role just over two years now.

“This is a landmark case, that has attracted a lot of media attention. One of our main aims is to encourage people to report these crimes there and then, and I hope this case encourages other people to take action if they hear any form of abuse or discrimination of any kind.

“Any form of abuse is disgusting and can never be condoned. The good thing is, society has and is changing. Quite rightly, people are more prepared to call others out these days, and so they should.”

On the day of the incident, fellow fans reported Arnold’s behaviour to the stewards, who contacted the football club control room. Officers then used CCTV at the stadium to locate the offender and witness his behaviour.

“I think this demonstrates how seriously we are taking abuse and how quickly action can be taken. Once Arnold had been located, stewards intervened and removed him from the stadium before handing him to police and arresting him,” explained Stuart.

Although Rio had not witnessed the abuse himself, he told court that he felt ‘sick’ and ‘distressed’ when told what had happened.

In a statement, Rio said: “Racism will only be eradicated when we all work together as a society.

“The prosecution wouldn't have been possible without all the help and support from the witnesses, Wolves fans and staff that came forward to testify in court.

“Special thank you to Police Constable Stuart Ward (Football Hate Crime Officer), my family and my team at New Era!”

Stuart said that it was nice to receive such public praise from Rio.

He added: “A lot of work goes into this job, so it’s nice to receive such praise.”

Stuart, who has been a police officer for 15 years, wanted to take on the role of football hate crime officer having experienced abuse himself as a youngster.

“I’m mixed race and remember being 11 years old and playing football for a junior side,” he recalled.

“Abuse came from another player and the thing that stuck with me was how no one did anything about it, other than my Mum who stopped the game and took me off the pitch.

“I know how being abused feels, it hits you hard. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a celebrity or not, it really does have a severe impact on you.”