The police can't actually claim they had intelligence on City fans going to pubs in Huddersfield ahead of the game, as they bubbled it at the same time the kick off time change was announced. Unless they are psychic, they couldn't possibly know if any City fans were going to decide to go to Huddersfield town centre ahead of the game.
Don't forget, the game was moved from 3 o'clock to 12 because of those very concerns, so to be fair they could well claim that intel. The intelligence is, in all probability, just gossip about a group of fans tying in something like a birthday celebration or a stag do with the game. Those events will be happening independent of a march, protest or WYP.
I'm not sure they can claim intel on the original fixture either, don't they just make all games against other Yorkshire teams into night matches or early kick-offs, as a matter of course?
It doesn't seem to say they had intelligence of fans going to pubs, just that they had intelligence of possible trouble, hence the restrictions. The pub thing is as a result of the restrictions. There seems to be a general thought that the WYP have to justify their decision; it doesn't look that way though. What is concerning is that it will take very little incident that can be linked to us for a creative bulletin writer to make us look poor nationally. I have been aroung W Yorks over the last few days and you would struggle to get someone clued up on it in Hudds and in Halifax, Leeds, Wakefield, et al, it is a non-event; I would think that the further you travel the less informed folk will be - until it hits the screens for all of the wrong reasons. As it happens I have every faith in our support (and Hudds) to behave with dignity, but experience makes me dubious of others - it will be like a red-rag-to-a-bull to some.
Cheshireben It is and has been for sometime a protocol of demonstrations and protest marches to be self stewarding. We accept some form of marshalling at any large gathering, even weddings have ushers. If you believe that you will be allowed to just simply walk to the stadium from Huddersfield city centre and have the appearance of a protest, I'm afraid that you will be in for a shock. It will not happen in the way that you believe it will. You will either join a large group that has some form of stewarding (either police or organiser) or you will be in a small group that is unaffective and does not get near. There is no middle ground. A bubble match is just that. The fact that you intend to be in the area of the stadium means that you have to comply with the containment or you will not get anywhere near. WYP will exercise their right to ask for you to show your match tickets. All routes into the stadium area will be fully policed, verbal warning will be issued and unless you comply you will face containment or arrest. There are only three roads into the stadium area, access is easy to control and it does not matter how many attend. You may believe that my post is negative it isnt. There is a car park just beyond the golf centre. That in my opinion is the closest that you will get to the stadium. So the choice that you will face is simple either attend and accept some form a stewarding or attend and dont. One way you make a valid protest the other way you will not be able to.
Possibly. I don't recall any claims about trouble being predicted, he mentioned/mumbled more the fear of City fans drinking in pubs from lunchtime onwards. I think he needs one of his legal bods to inform him it's illegal to attempt to enter a football stadium 'under the influence' even the John Smiths Stadium.
This is what he said; there's nowt quite like the facts: Supt Ged McManus, from West Yorkshire Police, said the tightened rules were necessary due to the late kick-off. He said: "In order to facilitate this change a number of conditions were necessary to ensure that the match can be safely policed. "We have asked for these restrictions to enable us to control the amount of fans attending the match and reduce the level of alcohol consumption, therefore decreasing any risk to the wider public in Huddersfield and reducing the cost of policing such a match for West Yorkshire residents. "I understand that these measures will not be to everyone's liking but they are a result of consultation between ourselves, both football clubs and the Football League."
The fact the police catorgrised the match as high risk is the main issue that I have. By doing so they effectively raised the bar and it gave them the ability to insist on the acceptance on the conditions rather than the clubs having any say. They must have then lowered the risk factor in order to increase the numbers, or the clubs agreed to pay for more policing. If the two Sheffield clubs where to play, they would have the same level of risk! It is this element that is clearly wrong and what gets me. This was never a high risk match and it never will be. There is no current evidence to show that there would be trouble, any more than matches played between us and Burnley. It is all about money and that is what stinks
Hull City have not been consulted about anything, they have not been allowed any input at all, this bloke's a lying bastard. I wish a slow and painful death on him, his family, anyone who ever met him and Simon Walton.
If I am stopped and refused access to Huddersfield I will go to the service station as I hope many others will.For me it is Udders or the services-hopefully in massive numbers.I do not know how many cars the service station can handle without being gridlocked. I emphasise I am going to Udders to do a bit of peaceful shopping and have a good day out.If any copper has been searching for my personal details based on their non existent intel they had better watch out for a detailed public examination of the powers used. I would imagine if alot of cars are stopped on the approach roads to Udders and then they broke down(I know this is highly unlikely)it would also soon cause grid lock. I do hope the WYP draft in someone with a little more wit to devise a coping strategy. One suggestion would be for the match to be played under normal conditions except extra police monitoring pubs and detaining people if drunk and disorderly.I think this will be cheaper than the looming scenarios.
Fez.I think you are correct about the potential for bad behaviour of some who drink.Unfortunately the feeling of injustice has been added by wyp.They are the pros when dealing with crowds.As in all professions one has to reflect on outcomes and try to learn lessons. I think this escalating situation would be handled differently if we could start over with a clean slate.Pride would appear to come before a fall for the top man in this situation.His superiors will be imo ruthless when he tries for further advancement. Hopefully this will lead to strategists from outside the police being inserted into senior roles as the present guys do not seem to have sufficient flexibility and imagination.
cafe, I agree with you, as I said earlier, the WYP have made a gross error of judgment and they may well privately regret it, but backing down is just as damaging for them. The potential is not just from drink, but from folk, from outside of the Huddersfield and Hull City football communities, using the occasion for their own agenda. As much as I object to their approach I can see why they decided upon it, but it looks like they massively underestimated the strength of public opinion. But to offer another view, after losing the Leeds ruling, perhaps they are forcing the bigger issue, as it will need resolving one way or another - it has certainly made folk focus. Let's hope that everything goes off with style and good-humour, that the best team wins and further discussions and actions do not disrupt the continuity of match-day support, club revenue and and the good name of the game, the clubs and their hard pressed support.
Cafe, there will not be any vehicles prevented from going into Huddersfield, but under the terms of the police mandate you will not be able to protest as an individual at the Stadium. There will I am sure be a possibility that an organised march will be able to enter the area around the stadium but those from Hull who join it will be prevented from entering the stadium even if they have tickets for the match. Huddersfeild supporters with tickets will be instructed to leave the protest at a point well before the stadium and the Udders will be kettled with the rest of you. Once in the kettling area you will not be permitted to leave for any reason. Then you will be dispersed in small manageable groups. Each group will be taken to a different dispatch point and told to leave the area or face arrest. It is no good anyone on here thinking that they will be able to outwit any police force, even the dim ones like WYP have operational expertise in this. As you drive and walk around dont forget to smile for the camera's. You will be monitored from the moment you pass junction 26. WYP have both index plate and facial recognition systems available in fixed and mobile units. That bloke walking next to you, sharing in the banter is just as likely to be a spotter texting in his reports as a fan checking where his mates are. You are entering a different world. The only way to get it right is to protest in numbers and in peace. Accept that there will be restrictions and dont let them wind you up.
His words quoted and later statements seem to show his fears seem to be more related to alcohol than pre-organised trouble, which leaves him on a weak wicket as far as claiming 'intelligence'.
It has taken many years to BEGIN the accountability point for Hillsborough.It will not take as many for the next abuse by the police to come to public attention.I take your point Mel.They appear to have all the aces.But Power can be a funny old game and in the modern era what seems like a forgone conclusion can speedily end up something quite different. If there is trouble(which I hope there is not) I think this will demonstrate the ineptitude of the police rather than them getting the public to swallow the "I told you so" arguement. It will be interesting to see the official statistics re.arrests at udders home matches against Hull.This may focus national attention on why WYP decded to create this action. It would appear that with Hillsborough in the news the "plebgate ""coppers were thick as well as malicious liars(if the stories about them are true) They need outside help in decision making Fit up?no thanks officer I feel sure you will know my car registration by now-see you next Saturday. Back up cameras anyone
It's sad but understandable that people express such genuine concerns regarding the potential for trouble to be initiated by the Police and for them to lie about it. The police forget that they are NOT the law. We just pay them to see that the law is upheld.
Thats the whole point of the thread Lambo , the club initially agreed with the police although it wasn't Nick Thompson in the meeting
According to the club, they have not been consulted, or had any input into any of this, so haven't agreed to anything. They think the whole thing is completely unreasonable, unjustified is basically a load of old bollocks.
I was really pissed off about missing the match.I am now really looking forward to my day out shopping.I will probably have a slice of cake along with my coffee You will never take my freedom!
Police to close coffee shops across the county. No cakes for invading army "ok I won"t come then.NOT!!!"
