I'll repost a link Bielbs provided on another thread regarding a message from Amanda Jacks of the FSF. 2013/03/05/policing-walsall-fc-v-shrewsbury-town-fc-2013/ Policing Walsall FC v Shrewsbury Town FC 2013 On Saturday 2nd March2013, Walsall hosted Shrewsbury Town in a league fixture. Prior to this season, the two clubs had last met in 2007 in the FA Cup and that fixture resulted in one of the most serious incidents of Football Disorder that the West Midlands has ever seen. From that incident there were over 20 arrests & convictions for Violent Disorder all with Banning Orders imposed. This season on October 14th Walsall were away to Shrewsbury where again there was serious disorder. This time there were 18 arrests on the day, numerous injuries reported (including to Police Officers) and following press releases in both areas, approximately a further 20 arrested. The investigation into this case continues. So in summary over the last two games almost 60 arrests for serious disorder. As the game approached we received numerous intelligence reports, specifically intimating that disorder between sections of the two rival fan groups was again planned and it was clear that a significant Policing operation would be required. All of this at a ground whose games are regularly Police Free. Planning meetings were held with Walsall Football Club, British Transport Police and The Saddlers Club (a private Social Club within the ground, used by home and away fans). There were many ideas discussed by the police and the club, these included: â¢All ticket for both sets of fans â¢Early Kick off time â¢No alcohol sales inside the ground Ultimately none of the above were enforced and the only pre match âtacticâ used was to make the game all ticket for the travelling Shrewsbury fans. This was in keeping with our wider policy of not becoming involved with kick off times / TV arrangements etc. Resourcing wise, the game would be managed by one Bronze Commander (at the ground) deploying 4 Public Order PSUâs (12 vans), four dogs, a prisoner handling capability and officers to deploy a mobile barrier â referred to as an âiron horseâ. Our objective: â¢Deliver a friendly, engaging and reassuring police presence which allows genuine football supporters to enjoy their day out at the match â¢Efficiently resource this event in a way that is proportionate to the intelligence and information we have. As part of our engagement strategy and âno surprisesâ we released a number of âtweetsâ in the run up to the game, advising fans that there would be extra police on duty and reminding Shrewsbury fans that it was all ticket. On the day officers were deployed in and around Walsall Town Centre, the train stations and in Birmingham City Centre. Our focus â as in all games, was to identify those supporters early on, who we recognise as having participated in, or attempted to provoke disorder previously and to respond to their behaviour on the day proportionally, but robustly. In doing so the vast majority of other fans should see little difference, other than an increased presence and slightly different arrangements at the end of the game. Prior to kick off, in Birmingham City Centre, a group of 6 Shrewsbury supporters were identified and issued with Sec 27 direction to leave notices. Subsequently one failed to leave the area and was arrested. (See footnote) Similarly a group of 40 known football risk supporters of Walsall FC were located inside a public house. Two of this group were arrested for breaching the terms of their football banning orders, three were arrested to prevent a breach of the peace (from their behaviour and demeanour, it was believed that they posed an imminent threat to public safety and public order) and the rest were served with again the Sec 27 direction to leave notices. (The notices prevented them from going to the area by the stadium and the stadium itself). Just before kick off, unfortunately a further 2 males were arrested for being drunk whilst attempting to enter the stadium, but the game passed off with no disorder or further arrests. Officers that had been deployed in Birmingham and Walsall Town Centre were moved to outside of the ground and the âiron horseâ crowd safety barrier was deployed half way along the Five Rivers Stand. The location of this was given specific thought by the Match Command Team, so that fans were separated, whilst allowing disabled supporters to exit the Five Rivers Stand in their usual way, without being inconvenienced. In addition to this some officers deployed around the stadium were positioned as a âfilter cordonâ to allow controlled access to the coach park. Others supported British Transport Police at Bescot Station, both previous flashpoints for disorder. So whilst highly visible, the overwhelming majority of fans should have felt little impact of the police being there. No disorder occurred throughout the day and from the police point of view the operation was a success. There is of course the argument that nothing would have happened had the Police not being there, but we can only act upon previous knowledge. We realise that not all of our decisions are popular and some of you will not agree with the reasons why arrests were made or the use of Sec 27; however all decisions must be justified by the officer making that decision as being necessary and proportionate in all the circumstances. What is important is getting the balance correct between the 99% of fans who are attending a sporting event and the 1% who are intent on causing trouble. The result? No disorder for the first time in the recent history of the two clubs allowing supporters to enjoy the dayâ¦. Sec 27 dispersal notices are issued when an officer believes: The presence of the individual in that locality is likely, in all the circumstances to cause or contribute to the occurrence of alcohol related crime and disorder, or a repetition of such. This applies to persons over the age of 16yrs and requires them to leave the area as directed by the officer and prohibits them returning within a set period of time â not exceeding 48hrs.
Just heard the end of an announcement by Burnsey on the legal case More on the 10am news .. Sounded as though the FSF had made a press release I think but didnt catch it all!
Originallambrettaman ‏@origlambman @WestYorksPolice Dear footballing policing unit, this is how a proper police force does things... http://wmpfootballunit.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/policing-walsall-fc-v-shrewsbury-town-fc-2013/ …
I've got his personal e-mail but I'm not giving that out! If you want to get a point across to him/the club I can direct him to this page or something?
Also send a copy to Humberside Police. And our police commissioner and ask him to get Humberside Police to explain why we need more police stood around in the ground for the arrival of a couple of hundred away fans than are in Old Trafford for 3,000 away fans in a 75,000 crowd. Not to mention how Manchester Police coped with an EDL rally and a Man Utd game at the same time when our police have problems with a 20,000 crowd. I dread to think what our police will want for the game against Cardiff to go ahead if we both, or just one of us, need to win to ensure promotion.
Cheers. I'm thinking of cobbling something together later. I'll have a think about how it looks before deciding the best thing to do with it. My thinking at the moment is writing something to make sure he's aware of the long term consequences of his current position. In short, Mr Duffen lead us to the Premier League and is largely despised for other actions, Adam Pearson never received a jot of criticism and gained plenty of kudos for rejecting all TWS tickets when WYP tried the same thing previously. It could even be worth mentioning the long term anger still felt from the weakness in allowing Bradford the south stand. I also feel he's alienating a lot of supporters to apease Huddersfield and a handful of City fans and in accepting these terms, he's accepting the assumption that we're marauding animals.
Personally I doubt that it's all about NT. I can't see that he has just decided to be weak over this. It's a big issue and the owners and hierarchy will all have discussed it and agreed on the course of (non)action to carry out.
Sorry Guys.. stand easy.. just heard it was that local pressure has resulted in them winning a legal review for the Leeds heart unit.. I've got this on my brain now and must get out more! Shows I cant multi task as I thought.
I doubt very much it's ALL about Mr Thompson, but he's the one quoted as putting the bubble trip suggestion forward and also the one saying we will be accepting the tickets to appease the handful that will still go, so he's the one I feel needs to be made aware of the bigger picture and longer term impacts of these ridiculous arrangements. The more we accept these things, the more people will simply walk away from football. He is currently playing his part in that demise.
I think that approach suggested by DMD is a good one. Nick Thompson, being new to all this, has had a tough hand dealt him by WYP and from whats been said so far the club only came in late after WYP and HTFC had already been arguing over the change of ko time die to TV. As I recall its been said ,on the restictions, that the small number of Hull based fans who regularly use Tiger Travel probably wonder what all the fuss is about as nothing is changed for them. Fans cant really bleat about freedom to travel as they choose, then expect 200 or so regular away fans to change their pre-booked Tiger Travel. Nick Thompson said as much last month when he spoke to Burnsey. He was between a rock and a hard place and forced to compromise by WYP and HTFC.. I forwarded my e mails, with Karl Turners reply I'd posted on here on Saturday night, onto Mike White, Phil Buckingham and Matt Dean on Sunday , Goochie actually had pulled me up , correctly, when I'd joked I'd ignore them as it was "wrong sport".. Burnsey was cc'd with the originals anyway. I asked them to send the e mail onto Nick Thompson for his information, as I felt the e mail showed fans were passionate and determined. This campaign needed coordinated approach with the club involved but they can only be seen to go so far. Fans have to take the action with whatever support they can muster. Its fine all the fans kicking off but WYP will just "divide and rule". A coordinated campaign from fans and the clubs of HCFC & HTFC backed by other clubs, which the FSF are supporting by the way, will be much more effective.
