Dubai: One of the top international security consultants from Germany has called for enhanced use of social media by law enforcement agencies in dealing with the scourge of hooliganism at sports events.

Reinhold James Bietzker, an international security consultant involved closely with major sporting events in Germany, told delegates attending the final day of the Fifth Dubai International Sport Versus Crime Conference that police and law enforcement agencies around the world “have waited too long to use social media”.

“It may be too long but it is never too late to use social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in maintaining law and order at sporting events. Of course one of the key elements would be to stay sensitive to the crowd while keeping local cultures in mind,” Bietzker told Gulf News after his presentation on hooliganism.

“Modern-day resources and technologies are there to be used. As law enforcers we need to realise the need to keep up with the times and use these resources to our advantage in a positive manner,” he added.

Bietzker’s presentation was on a case study of his practical experience while being part of the Special Forces Riot Police Unit at high-risk sporting events organised in Germany.

“One of the major reasons for hooliganism is the innate desire for recognition, and this stems from the individual having a weak social background. Some of the European countries even have organised hooligan clubs and this makes things particularly difficult for the law-enforcing agencies. Coming face to face with hooligans can be very frightening and bizarre and, most often, having preventive measures in place are more effective,” Bietzker said.

“The best job by police is when nothing happens at an event. So, one of the modern trends for law enforcers is to get directly in touch with possible trouble-makers before the event so that they are aware they are under the scanner in case of any trouble. And such a pre-event connection can also help reduce the negative feelings between the spectators and the law enforcers,” he added.

As per the official data base in Germany, less than one per cent of the crowd will have negative trouble-making elements who normally have the capacity to sway at least 19 per cent and get them worked up due to a situation. “The result is that the majority 80 per cent harmless part of the crowd who have come for the event get a completely different experience, and this should never be acceptable,” he said.

Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman, Dubai Sports Council, the three-day conference was held as part of Dubai Police’s social responsibility initiative.