A SUGGESTION by Chief Constable Leslie Sharp that charges for policing

junior football matches in Strathclyde region should be doubled was

rejected yesterday by the police and fire committee.

Mr Sharp said the charges were half those for senior matches and had

not been reviewed since 1920. Equalising charges would not place an

undue burden on clubs, because only big fixtures attracted a sizable

attendance for policing.

Councillor Tom Barry suggested that Mr Sharp did not understand local

views on football. He said: ''This would be daylight robbery. The clubs

would never survive these increases.''

Committee chairman Councillor James Jennings added: ''Junior clubs

don't have a lot of money. I think our policy could stay as it is.'' The

committee agreed.

New rates for policing football matches, taking account of a 1.5% pay

increase, will be implemented from September 1. They range from #20.39

an hour for a constable to #47.38 for

a chief superintendent. Enhanced rates for junior ranks apply on

public holidays.

The details are:

Hourly rate -- Constable, #20.39; sergeant, #25.91; inspector, #29.30;

chief inspector, #32.25; superintendent, #43.95; chief superintendent,

#47.38.

During the 1992-1993 season, there were 16 occasions when charges were

applied at junior matches. The total recovered was #3938.42 including

VAT. Of this, #2362.49 related to two semi-final ties and the final of

the Scottish Junior Cup.