PRESS RELEASE 15 year old Hull City fan ends legal action against Police after compromise agreed West Yorkshire Police have agreed to a new set of conditions on the Huddersfield Town v Hull City football match on 30 March 2013. The new conditions, while far from acceptable to a lot of fans, will increase the access to the game. This is a recognition that their initial plans were disproportionate. The fact they were forced into talks with the clubs is a success for Louis and the many fans who voiced their opposition to arrangements. Louis and his lawyers share the concern that the remaining conditions are not necessary and potentially unlawful. However, as Hull City FC have offered to make whatever arrangements that are necessary to ensure Louis can attend the game he is no longer actually restricted by the remaining conditions and is therefore unable to challenge the conditions in court. Although this offer was made with the best intentions Louis has decided not to accept it because he does not want special treatment when other fans will not be able to go to the game. We are concerned that there are still many unresolved issues in relation to the actions of West Yorkshire Police including, the decision to categorise the match at the highest category (`C + Increased Risk'); the lawful basis for exercising police powers in these circumstances; and the basis for considering that the restrictions placed on Hull fans are necessary to reduce disorder. Louis Cooper says "I'm obviously disappointed that the action can't go any further as I was doing this not just for myself but for all football fans. I like many others will be boycotting the game and making a peaceful protest on the day." Lochlinn Parker says "Louis is rightfully disappointed at not being able to pursue this case against West Yorkshire Police. This match, even at a 5.20pm kick off, does not warrant more than a minimal police presence. Both sets of fans are amongst some of the best behaved in the Championship. West Yorkshire Police have accepted that if the match was played at 12.00pm they would not place any restrictions on the game but have failed to explain why the later kick off justifies the restriction on the movement of over a thousand people who will be attending what is a normal Saturday afternoon football match. The issues that arise in this case are likely to be repeated in other circumstances and we hope to be able to assist fans in the future in ensuring that they can attend matches without being restricted by unnecessary police conditions." Amanda Jacks the Director of Case Work at the Football Supporters Federation has said "We'd like to thank Louis for being prepared to bring this challenge on behalf of all fans and share his disappointment. The Football Supporters' Federation remain fundamentally opposed to any restriction on fans movement even if the inconvenience is deemed minimal. We would hope that in future such arrangements are not imposed on supporters and will remain alert to future opportunities to challenge them."
It was only ever done for the publicity and there was never any reasonable chance of this case going further forward.
Good for Louis and the best result sadly. I am also now leaning myself to not going to the game as i will not be told what i can and cannot do by useless fuzzies(WYP) who are not fit for purpose. The sooner the Udders game is done the better and we can move on. My respect to Louis though for what he has done and tried to do. IMO, behind the scenes @ WYP HQ a few harsh words will have been spoken. United in public but bollockings in private handed down.
It was actually done with the intention of taking it further, WYP have just moved the goal posts(see what I did there?) to remove any reasonable chance of success.
Am I reading it wrong? It looks to me as though by accommodating those that want to go, the Club has increased the chances of it happening again. 100% respect to Louis for taking it on though.
Hahaha Do you want me to post a link to the thread where you said you were driving there whatever... And that human rights and civil liberties meant WYP couldn't impose restrictions... And you had the cheek to say I was spouting drivel when I pointed out you were wrong! That made me laugh out loud, reading that!
The original case was based on how unreasonable it was to make someone from Manchester go to Hull, to then get on a coach to Huddersfield, that was obviously weakened by the Hartshead Moor 'compromise'. There were also other issues with the information that WYP provided in response to Louis' solicitors correspondence, but I'm not sure I'm supposed to post details(if those more closely involved than me, decide to reveal more details on CI, I'll copy them back to here).
I don't see what has changed. WYP are still restricting the way fans are able to travel to the match and they are still restricting the number of away fans to 1700.So the police are restricting fans freedom and will do so again because they haven't been pulled up by a judicial review. If the action had gone ahead and Louis had won it would of blown "bubble" travel to football matches out of the water. Fans and Louis let down AGAIN
I know what i said and yes i was going to go regardless. But the more thought ive given it the more i have come to the conclusion that this game can just Fook Off. Sorry if that little matter has passed you by Steve7. If the Udders game had more riding on it than 3 points then yes i would have gone regardless and suffered the concequencies. Many others i suspect would have also done the same. Thankfully Ive still got trips to Ipswich-Wolverhampton and Barnsley(under SYP Control) to do and it is hoped that Hull City Football Club have already pre-warned Barnsley that we may just want and need the entire stand of 6000.
The last thing Hull City and we as fans want or need is any trouble in Huddersfield on that day. If anything does kick off other than the game(pun intended) then the WYP will have won the argument and for sure Bubble Football will not die with this game. The whole issue needs to be sorted out in the summer and the Football League need to start by getting a grip with Sky. IMO, Only April and May fixtures should be allowed to be late choices. August to March end should have to be decided well in advance of the fixture. How many people have had there easter saturday messed up by the change of ko regardless of the WYP actions ?
There was never any hope of success. In fact to take this further forward (to judicial review) and lose, would have been a disaster for all football fans.
Your choice. Its nothing to do with learning More to do with freedom of choice. But i am also angered by the pathetic stance of Hull City and Nick Thompson over this issue. IMO, what they should have done is this (for right or wrong) ""We as a club do anot agree with the dracionian actions of WYP and would suggest that our fans stay away from this fixture. Our fans are not a risk to public order and as a club we resent the treatment afforded by WYP. We have an allocation of 1000 tickets for those who want to go but thats it. We shall however open up the KC bars and concourse areas and show the match on the screens and also provide refreshemnts for those who want them. "" Whilst i can udnerstand that Huddersfield have to be careful in what they do as they have to work with WYP day to day, Hull City dont. Thats all.
I'd say it's already been a success, and it's far from over yet. WYP wanted to save money and set a precedent for dictating what goes on at football. The actions of Louis and others has made sure they've still got to provide AT LEAST the same amount of resources they would have had the game gone ahead, plus additional costs in the negotiations and dealing with requests, plus the damage it has done to their reputation and ability to negotiate with the Football Clubs and local businesses. Not to mention thy look ridiculous and out dated in the eyes of other Police Forces and they still have the cost of reviewing the mess to try to stop it happening again. The shame is they don't seem bright enough to consider reviewing a change in the policy, but will more likely look at closing some of the obvious loopholes Louis et al have exposed.
Raising the profile. It's been a story on the BBC Sport Football page for almost a week and has been mentioned in many sports papers and specifically referred to in open letters to WYP from various MP's etc.
