West Mercia Police latest to be found guilty of mistreating football supporters

[phantom]

Of course we all accept that there are issues with some fans at matches still, but it is refreshing to see those we often rely on to control situations are being brought up for when they inexcusably get things wrong. . .

This is the reporting of the original incident back in April 2013

Portsmouth pensioners were forced to spend hours in a disco when police operated a zero-tolerance policy for their trip to Shrewsbury.

Hundreds of Pompey fans who made the long journey from the south coast arrived for their already relegated team’s final game of the League One season were marched straight from the train station to a nightclub and told they could not leave until coaches arrived to take them to the ground for the game.

Fans spent several hours drinking in the club and dancing to booming music but that was not to the tastes of the older folk travelling to the game.

Dave Sargent, 45, a Pompey fan based on Merseyside, said: ‘The police were a joke although I thought the stewards at the game were superb.

‘My sister is nearly 60 and was penned in the train station and marched to a nightclub called Fever which had been opened specially to keep the Pompey fans in one place.

‘If anyone wanted to go to the bookies they were escorted there by a policeman and back again.’

Pompey season-ticket holder Andy McLean added: ‘There were a lot of older fans who clearly found the experience uncomfortable.

‘Pompey have just had the most worrying time over the last 14 months or so about its survival and fortunately have overcome the problems, which was a great relief for everyone connected to the football club.

‘We were looking forward to celebrating a day out and marking a new beginning but not only was I personally embarrassed to be a football supporter, I was humiliated at the treatment we received from police.

‘I am a responsible 54-year-old law-abiding citizen who loves following my favourite football team across the country. But I can honestly say I have never been subjected to the treatment received on Saturday in the last 44 years of watching football anywhere, including Europe.’

And here is the update from the court case today . . .  .

 

[CotswoldRed]

Whichever **** authorised that action should find another job working alone, away from the general public. 

[Monkeh]

12 minutes ago, phantom said:

Of course we all accept that there are issues with some fans at matches still, but it is refreshing to see those we often rely on to control situations are being brought up for when they inexcusably get things wrong. . .

This is the reporting of the original incident back in April 2013

Portsmouth pensioners were forced to spend hours in a disco when police operated a zero-tolerance policy for their trip to Shrewsbury.

Hundreds of Pompey fans who made the long journey from the south coast arrived for their already relegated team’s final game of the League One season were marched straight from the train station to a nightclub and told they could not leave until coaches arrived to take them to the ground for the game.

Fans spent several hours drinking in the club and dancing to booming music but that was not to the tastes of the older folk travelling to the game.

Dave Sargent, 45, a Pompey fan based on Merseyside, said: ‘The police were a joke although I thought the stewards at the game were superb.

‘My sister is nearly 60 and was penned in the train station and marched to a nightclub called Fever which had been opened specially to keep the Pompey fans in one place.

‘If anyone wanted to go to the bookies they were escorted there by a policeman and back again.’

Pompey season-ticket holder Andy McLean added: ‘There were a lot of older fans who clearly found the experience uncomfortable.

‘Pompey have just had the most worrying time over the last 14 months or so about its survival and fortunately have overcome the problems, which was a great relief for everyone connected to the football club.

‘We were looking forward to celebrating a day out and marking a new beginning but not only was I personally embarrassed to be a football supporter, I was humiliated at the treatment we received from police.

‘I am a responsible 54-year-old law-abiding citizen who loves following my favourite football team across the country. But I can honestly say I have never been subjected to the treatment received on Saturday in the last 44 years of watching football anywhere, including Europe.’

And here is the update from the court case today . . .  .

 

false imprisonment is illegal as far as i was aware, not all police are saints I understand that but when it comes to all the forces in this country ours seem to be up there with the best and the ones with actual common sense

[RedRock]

Yep. Hear from the Plymuff vs Exeter match our mounted police were praised. 

Far from the days when we had  superintendent plod in the Park End divide lashing out at anyone/thing that moved. Don't think he liked working Saturdays. 

[cidercity1987]

No difference to us all being locked in the Great Western in Cardiff a few years ago.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/bristol-city-fans-blamed-wreaking-havoc-cardiff/story-18168275-detail/story.html

[Alan Dicks' Barmy Army]

 

1 hour ago, Monkeh said:

false imprisonment is illegal as far as i was aware, not all police are saints I understand that but when it comes to all the forces in this country ours seem to be up there with the best and the ones with actual common sense

Very true, they seem much better. But get A&S away from home and some go on a power trip

Can think of at least one policeman who regularly went on a mission to charge City fans, and was also witness to a "local" policeman getting on our coach a few seasons back to apologise for HIS behaviour !!

1 hour ago, cidercity1987 said:

No difference to us all being locked in the Great Western in Cardiff a few years ago.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/bristol-city-fans-blamed-wreaking-havoc-cardiff/story-18168275-detail/story.html

Indeed - but for some reason nobody seems to want to raise our problems with Heddlu, not sure if that is because of the problems our supporters get involved in over there

[BS4 on Tour...]

1 hour ago, cidercity1987 said:

No difference to us all being locked in the Great Western in Cardiff a few years ago.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/bristol-city-fans-blamed-wreaking-havoc-cardiff/story-18168275-detail/story.html

Not really the same, I was in the Great Western that day with three mates, when it got too crowded we walked to the door, told the police we wanted to leave and they stood aside and let us go saying something like 'it's up to you but we can't guarantee your safety.' We went to a couple of pubs nearer the stadium and had no problems whatsoever.

Sounds like the Pompey fans didn't have the same choice in this instance.

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 hours ago, Monkeh said:

false imprisonment is illegal as far as i was aware, not all police are saints I understand that but when it comes to all the forces in this country ours seem to be up there with the best and the ones with actual common sense

Our police do instinctively strike me as quite good @Monkeh I don't disagree.Especially for football these days.

In a general sense though, as in the whole picture I think they are up there for complaints though, proportionately 3rd or 4th highest in the country. Saw a stat somewhere about it. But football pretty good, pretty sensible!

[phantom]

1 minute ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Our police do instinctively strike me as quite good @Monkeh I don't disagree.Especially for football these days.

In a general sense though, as in the whole picture I think they are up there for complaints though, proportionately 3rd or 4th highest in the country. Saw a stat somewhere about it.

and certainly the highest for convictions Vs Arrests for equal / similar charges around the rest of the country

[Mr Popodopolous]

4 minutes ago, phantom said:

and certainly the highest for convictions Vs Arrests for equal / similar charges around the rest of the country

Is this just football we are on about or generally? Guessing football- yeah read it somewhere on this forum before about the high ratio a while ago.

[cidercity1987]

1 hour ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

Not really the same, I was in the Great Western that day with three mates, when it got too crowded we walked to the door, told the police we wanted to leave and they stood aside and let us go saying something like 'it's up to you but we can't guarantee your safety.' We went to a couple of pubs nearer the stadium and had no problems whatsoever.

Sounds like the Pompey fans didn't have the same choice in this instance.

Thats interesting. Obviously me, another chap and his girlfriend looked the wrong sort as we weren't allowed to go to elsewhere.