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kelly

By kelly
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Not only was the score disappointing. I am also p*ssed off with the treatment i got from a police officer who thought it was ok to shove me and im 2 months pregnant. All because he has a uniform he thinks its ok to do that. Completely unfair

Should've told him to take his hat off and piss in it!

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kelly

kelly

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Asked 1 officer if i could pop in the shop and he said it was ok. When i came out another officer pushed me and whacked my blokes can out of his hand with his 'im a big boy stick'. Absolutely no need for it. He seemed to be 1 of those a**holes who thinks cuz he has a uniform thinks its ok. Seen him do it to others for no reason. Total p****

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kelly

kelly

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Ive got his ID number so am gona report him. If the officer i asked would of said no then fair enough i wouldnt of bothered and if couldnt of had the can then just had 2 say sorry mate cant take that but no. Thought he was a big man hiding behind the uniform

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EnclosureSurge

EnclosureSurge

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We are fine thanks. I know what you mean thou, they all stick together so im not holding my breath

Sorry, meant to ask how you are (typical male football fan: up there for dancing, down there for thinking).

Hope you're both/all well.

And as you have his ID number - which I wondered about - definitely email your MP. Even if it comes to nothing you will have registered your feelings and what happened.

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O'Garlandinho

O'Garlandinho

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The worst i saw today was a police horse hitting a young child, just outside the ground after the game. I think a few people were in danger of getting trod on by the same horse, the police officer clearly couldn't control it as well as he should.

Overall, the police used the same tactics as Cardiff away in February, so stupid! Lumping everyone who travelled on the train together in an escort, no freedom to venture anywhere, and gives the idiots an excuse to vandalise cars etc.

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cider head

cider head

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Contact Amanda Jacks she would be able to give you advice, below was posted on WTMS and worth a read

http://www.whenthemoonshines.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1482

Amanda Jacks from the Football Supporters Federation, and twitter fame via her @FSF_FairCop feed has provided this case study based on one young male fan’s experience of policing at football matches during the 2012/13 season.

We were happy to share this as we too have concerns about some of the incidents detailed here and can vouch it for ourselves that the help of Amanda and the Football Supporters Federation can be invaluable for us ordinary supporters.

References to the team the fan in question follows have been changed, along with that of the relevant Police Force responsible for their games.

Any Town FC – Policing Report 2012/13 Home Games -

In general, the average game has roughly 6 Football Intelligence Officers (FIOs) and spotters for the home side, a level justified, in the eyes of the Police by the fact that most matches pass off without incident. This does not compare with the numbers used by other Clubs in the same division and is, I think disproportionate – other Clubs only seeming to have 2 FIOs with blue stripes.

Mobile surveillance units are used at all games, regardless of the opponent and are placed on the route used by the majority of home fans travelling from the Town Centre, traditional pubs and both Rail and Bus Stations.

This may be justified for crime prevention but does nothing but alienate many fans from the general football experience.

In my view, as the Police make a point of marching away fans away from these routes in an effort to segregate opposing fans these units are not required. The Units are designed to intimidate the match going fan – who wants to be on Police film for buying a burger or going for a pre-match pint before they make their way to the Ground?

I have even heard of cases where Police have escorted groups of young home fans to the ground – groups of fans well under the age of 18 who surely pose little threat to experienced FIOs and dozens of well-equipped Police Officers.

Police riot vans are also stationed outside the regular home fan pubs. Officers routinely enter these pubs in what appears to be a provocative manner, eyeballing drinkers and looking for the ‘high-risk’ faces we know they have pictures of in their notebooks. I’m sure the bar staff can vouch for the heavy-handed manner or attitude the Police give off.

Even those match going fans who are in the Town Centre several hours before a match (not uncommon for a home game surely?), have been stopped by Police carrying out ticket checks and taking ID details.

I personally believe the Police do this for 3 reasons:

1. Scare tactic
2. Small numbers of fans involved, i.e. they can get away with it
3. Intelligence gathering on ordinary match-going fans

Away Games -

I attended roughly 18 away games last season and the following 5 incidents are examples of the heavy-handed policing our away support has encountered.

Game 1 –

Following a game in which there were no incidents of trouble or even a hint of any football-related disturbances and whilst having a post-match pint outside a pub recommended by our own Police Force, we became aware of a heavy Police presence.

Mounted Police units were stationed outside the pub at around 5.15pm and we overheard the group of fans I was a part of described as high-risk on Police radio. This was news to us and despite sharing the pub and mixing with home fans quite happily, we were all informed we had to leave. Even the home fans seemed as confused as we were.

Game 2 –

In the build-up for this game, our fans had been looking forward to this as we would be housed on an old-fashioned terrace for the first time in a few seasons. However, this was entirely ruined when we were met at the train station by dozens of Police Officers dressed in black rather than the usual high vis, Police dogs and various camera units. There had been no ‘anti-social’ behaviour from our fans and we felt the Police were using tactics as old-fashioned as the home team’s facilities to add to our experience.

Game 3-

I was amongst a small group of away fans who stayed behind after the final whistle to clap our players off the pitch. We were soon surrounded by stewards and Police on the suspicion that we were responsible for letting off fireworks. Our details are taken and we’re searched. We were then told that it was in our best interests to leave the town and were escorted to the train station. We were threatened with arrest should we return to the town but not one of us was served with a Section 27 notice, the notice that would legally mean we could be arrested should we do so.

Following the game, nothing has been heard amongst our group about the potential pyrotechnics charges and I believe we were just made an example of. We were part of an intelligence gathering exercise and scare tactics.

Game 4-

Again, I was amongst a larger group of away fans drinking in a Wetherspoons pub in the City Centre. Despite no malicious behaviour or signs of trouble from our support, the local Police Force ordered the pub to stop serving drinks around 11am and blocked all exits with Officers.

No reason for this was given and no ID details were taken or any information given to the away fans by Police for 2 hours.
At 1pm, the Police decided we could leave for the match and we were given a full Police escort to the away end.

The 2 hour period was never explained to us and I felt that it was completely unjustified. We were doing the same as any other group of away fans would normally do for any game on any given weekend of the season, why were we treated so inconsistently?

Game 5-

On leaving the City Centre approximately 45 minutes before kick-off the group of away supporters I was a part of were followed by Police riot vans and cars full of FIOs and spotters. After 10 minutes or so, our path was then blocked by further riot vans that came screeching to a halt in front of us. We were stopped and asked to explain our presence – we stated we were en route to the match and were, we thought on a direct thoroughfare to the ground.

The Police then split us into two groups – those with match tickets and those without, this despite it being widely advertised as not an all-ticket match. Those without tickets were treated as criminals only out to cause trouble.

Despite this, the Police then offered us lifts to the ground – which following a season of distrust and suspicion, we declined enmasse.

No details were taken, we were not searched and no explanation was given to us by the Police, it seemed they just wanted to make us miss kick-off.

When we were eventually made it to the ground, we were again not subjected to any searching. The reason for our detention just didn’t seem to make any sense?

Conclusion-

The disproportionate policing that I believe I have encountered this season only serves to disillusion young football fans from attending live football matches. However, I am convinced that this would suit the agenda of the Police. For they would prefer to deal with football matches with ‘family’ atmospheres instead of acting proportionally when required. It is well documented that the average age of fans is increasing. Eventually it will be at a point where there will be no groups of young men left attending football. Disturbingly, no one seems to care, as the argument of stadiums being filled almost to capacity and matches are family friendly seems to prevail.

Side note –

In my personal capacity of dealing with police officers attached to my Club, I would like to give a special mention to PC Smith I believe to be the best of a bad bunch. He seems the fairest in difficult situations – something, which despite my legitimate distrusting of the police, is admirable.

I think the Police Unit attached to my Club should recognise the fact that they are dealing with young, working-class men from a de-industrialised community, some of whom have difficult upbringings and are living in difficult austerity times (the effect of which should not be under-emphasised). Perhaps if they took this into account they could show more compassion, instead of applying for football banning orders for the most minor of offences committed. What good does it do for someone’s mental and physical health, as well as for their family and for the economy itself if they are convicted of a fairly minor crime?

I hope the 2013/14 season passes peacefully with a better standard of appropriate policing. And a promotion would be nice.

Amanda Jacks of the FSF says: I’ve met the author of this document once and he came across as a thoughtful, intelligent and articulate young man but I’ve not attended a match with him and his mates, so can’t comment as to whether or not the attention they draw from the police, both home and away, is justified or not. What I do know, however, is that this account echoes what I often hear from younger males around the country and it is concerning that people in their formative years have such negative perception of the police and policing. Of course trouble makers should be dealt with but they should also be dealt with appropriately and the policing proportionate to the risk. If this doesn’t happen, young people risk being alienated with potentially serious repercussions, a point I’ve made many times to the police.

If fans, young or old, do feel that they are being unfairly targeted and treated by the police it is important that they don’t just put up with it. Get in touch for advice which will be given in complete confidence. It is also important fans are aware of their rights:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/law_e/law_legal_system_e/law_police_e/police_powers.htm

We are only as good as the information we receive and too often fans “expect and accept” certain styles of policing and stewarding rather than seek advice about ways to challenge it or complain. Don’t just moan to your mates or on message boards, Facebook or Twitter, get in touch and tell us about it so we can assist. All information received is treated in complete confidence.

http://www.standamf.com/2013/08/12/from-the-fsf-a-case-study-in-policing-at-football/

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