......from infection when we visit next Sunday. Well at least that is what I understand from this article published in the Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/dec/13/police-portsmouth-southampton I have to be very careful what I say about our near neighbours as if I say anything less than flattering about them I get chastised and threatened with all sorts of horrendous punishments by the moderators. This, however, is a statement from Hampshire's finest so I should be OK. Perhaps Hampshire's Chief Constable needs to be aware that the Pompey Board's moderators may well be after him once they have read this article.
You know it really is beyond a farce. It's just another example of the nanny state and speed bump policing - a few people break a rule and something is brought in that detracts from the quality of life of everyone else to supposedly prevent a recurrence. There are so many examples in society now yet we put up with it. In effect what the police are saying is that they are unable to perform their duties adequately. What? Potential trouble at a football derby match? Well **** me, who'd have thought that eh? Last time I checked, we pay our Council Tax to have a police force so stop bleating and get on with the job. I don't recall reading anywhere that the M27 between Southampton and Portsmouth is being closed on Sunday so presumably those that fully intend to go and cause some agro still will. The end result is that fans from outside the area have additional time and cost added to their journey and all attending fans are treated like adolescents who have no self-control. Shameful, bloody shameful.
Whilst I am in the process of dismounting my high horse, I should add that this is aimed at those decision makers within the police who consider 11 arrests and a couple of fireworks sufficient to warrant this nonsense. I am well aware how tough a job the police do.
So the police are all going to be in one area? So that leaves the rest of the city totally free for the people who want make the own way to p*mpey and have a tear up! Genius! The police can do what they want, but for the people that want a fight, they will find one.
Surely missing the point. Trouble makers can go down to Fratton every time we play away...but they don't! The herd mentality prevails unfortunately, it's in our nature. It is perfectly reasonable what they are doing: prevention being the best course. Maybe the arrest figures did not adequately show the trouble last time out...the hospital admissions did. Who remembers the wasteland of central London when we had running battles with the P****y supporters ( and it was that "skirmish" that ensured they and us never play away at the same time no matter what divisions we were in)?
There may have been only 11 arrests, but I witnessed 50 (at least) of our "fans" trying to break through the police line to get at the Pompey coaches. Had they succeeded, there would have been a riot. I don't think it's a good thing, but some of our "fans" have made this inevitable by their actions last time out.
