Success of West Midlands Police football hate crime officer featured in documentary

Police Constable Stuart Ward led the investigation into the case of a West Bromwich Albion fan who became the first in the country to be jailed for racially abusing a footballer online.

The West Midlands Police officer told Sky Sports News the conviction was “huge”, adding “I can’t say how important it was.”

Fifty-year-old Simon Silwood was jailed for eight weeks in September for racially abusing West Bromwich Albion player Romaine Sawyers on Facebook in January.

He was convicted of sending an offensive message under section 127 of the Communications Act.

Silwood lodged an appeal but it was dismissed at Wolverhampton Crown Court last month.

“It was one of my first cases, when I landed [in the post] in January. Just going through that whole process, and for the police to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts, and then for the judge to issue the sentence that he did, eight weeks in custody – to get to that point sets a marker,” PC Ward told Sky Sports News.

Following Silwood’s unsuccessful appeal, PC Ward said while they do not tolerate any form of racism, “this case shows everyone the courts won’t either”.

“This will hopefully send a warning to others that committing a hate crime is unacceptable… and you face a very real risk of going to jail,” he added.

Sky Sports News was granted exclusive access to PC Ward for the documentary, Racism – Football’s fight, which is screening from today (December 20).

Sky Sports News says it understands that 12 further police forces in England are considering introducing a specialist officer to try to combat the issue of hate crime in football following analysis of the work done by the West Midlands Police officer.

PC Ward was appointed as the UK’s first football officer designated to investigating discrimination in January this year.

These range from professional footballers to supporters who have reported receiving abuse either online or in person.

PC Ward is a regular visitor at stadiums to observe and act on any offences with West Midlands Police’s ‘club spotters’. This is alongside his ongoing work to monitor and take action against social media posts.

Part of his role also sees him working with partners to change an “unacceptable culture of abuse” through education around discrimination. This has included visits to youth clubs and schools.

“There has been a national rise in hate crime linked to football over the last few years and there are absolutely no winners from it,” said PC Ward.

Earlier this month, a football fan was banned from all games for five years after making racist gestures and remarks at a match involving West Bromwich Albion and Millwall.

Thirty-four year-old Kaine Lewis from Kent was also given a suspended four-month prison term and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work following an investigation by PC Ward.

The officer was the victim of racism himself as an 11-year-old footballer and says his experience two decades ago “only fuels his desire to lead our zero tolerance approach”.

“There’s no place for discrimination, which includes a football stadium,” said PC Ward.