More Saints supporters were arrested last season than in any of the previous eight years, new figures have shown. 

Statistics from the Home Office show 39 Southampton FC supporters were arrested throughout the 2022-2023 season. 

This is up from 29 the season before and the highest recorded since records began in 2014-2015. 

Four arrests were made for possessing class A drugs.

The number of arrests made at football games across England and Wales also hit a nine-year high with 2,264 arrests nationally. 

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Last season also saw the highest number of new banning orders handed out since the 2010-11 season.

Offences included throwing missiles, violent and public disorder, alcohol-related offences and ticket touting. 

A record 197 fans were arrested for throwing a missile across England and Wales – of them, four were Southampton supporters.

The figures come after more than 20 men were arrested in April this year for a fight between fans of Southampton and Tottenham. 

Dramatic footage shot by members of the public showed chairs, tables and glasses being launched into the air as the two sets of fans faced off in the street. 

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In 2022, Home Office figures showed there were 18 football banning orders in place at the end of the 21/22 season relating to Southampton fans.

But The National Police Chiefs Council said the police "are continuing to take positive action" to reduce a rising trend in disorder at football matches.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, said: "It is encouraging to see a slight reduction in the number of reported incidents, but we must put this into context and remember that the level of disorder we are seeing across football continues to be much higher than before the pandemic.

"Police are continuing to take positive action to reverse this trend by making a high number of arrests."

Douglas Mackay, sports lead prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said football banning orders are "one of the many tools available to the justice system" to help reduce disorder at football matches.

"At the CPS, we play a crucial role in tackling these crimes and making our national game inclusive, and safe to watch and play in.

"There is no place for violent and hateful criminal acts in football, and incidents such as these have a significant negative impact on players, spectators, and the integrity of the game."