FIGURES have revealed the number of times match-going Barrow AFC have been arrested in the last five years.

Data released by the Home Office showed that fans had been apprehended for public order offences and for throwing missiles.

In total six arrests have been made since 2015, making fans of the League Two club among the most law-abiding in the football league pyramid.

The highest number of arrests in a year were made in 2015/16 when officers made three arrests for public order offences.

In 2017/18 two arrests for public order and throwing missiles were made.

A further arrest for a public order offence was made by police in 2019/20.

Four of the arrests were made at home games at Barrow's Holker Street ground and two were at away games.

Barrow AFC were approached for comment but did not respond before The Mail went to press.

The number of football-related arrests and banning orders issued in England and Wales last season was significantly down on previous years due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

In total, there were 116 football-related arrests in connection with matches played last season with a further 24 made by the British Transport Police involving fans on the rail network.

Some 96 arrests were made during Euro 2020 this summer, with 90 coming at games played by England at Wembley.

In total, there are currently 1,359 football banning orders in force in England and Wales.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Football-related violence and disorder of any kind will not be tolerated.

"We support police in taking action and are pleased over 1,300 Football Banning Orders have been issued to stop troublemakers from attending stadiums.

"We are also taking action to tackle online racist abuse in football by seeking to amend legislation so that online abusers can be barred from stadiums in the same way violent thugs are barred from grounds."

The Home Office figures specifically concern football-related offences set out in section one of the Football Spectators Act 1989

Offences need to be defined as football-related in order for the authorities to apply for a football banning order, seen as the main deterrent for hooligans.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts of Cheshire Police, the National Police Chiefs' Council's football lead, said the figures showed that it was not the right time to propose allowing fans to drink alcohol in football stands.