The Club and London Stadium met with supporter representatives on the ISC as well as a member of the Football Supporters’ Association to discuss our safeguarding policy and procedures for unaccompanied juniors at matches.
As a Club and at London Stadium, our duty of care to supporters starts at the search bridges and therefore all adults (18+) must be accompanying a child under the age of 16 on arrival to the bridges and on entry to London Stadium.
Our first priority is to ensure that all young Hammers have a safe and enjoyable experience when attending matches at London Stadium. Informed by contextual risk and intelligence, we take our commitments to matchday safety operations seriously. In addition, regulations and licencing requirements must be met when young supporters are with us on matchday. This includes the requirement for all juniors under the age of 16 to be accompanied by a ticket holder aged 18 or over on arrival and entry at London Stadium. It is also advisable that the adult accompanies the junior at all times on matchday, wherever possible.
Our Supporter Services, Matchday Operations and Safeguarding teams are always available to support you and we will be happy to assist should you ever have any queries. To contact us, email supporterservices@westhamunited.co.uk or safeguarding@westhamunited.co.uk
Please be assured that if staff believe that a junior under the age of 16 is unaccompanied on matchday at London Stadium, we may approach them to ask if they’re with an adult and to check on their welfare. Both the Club and London Stadium have a duty of care to ask if everything is okay while they’re at the stadium.