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Police response to Millwall disorder


wessex saint

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OB's reasoning for not ordering the closure of the North car park is pretty dubious. Is closing the car park an effective strategy or an ineffective one (it suggests the latter when it points out that it didn't prevent trouble -i.e. a bit of volleyball from the car lot- against the skates)? But this begs two questions: why would have it been similarly ineffective against Millwall which by the OB's own admission were not in the same risk category as the skates. And if its an ineffective strategy, why was it employed against Leeds without a hitch only two weeks before (and if I recall against Millwall in 09/10)?

 

Similarly, the talk of not wanting to escalate the problem seems odd given the use of dogs who were indiscriminately biting people did precisely that.

 

Likewise, the idea that its all peace and love between our fans is a bit odd - usually, when you go to the Den, you're let out pretty much after the game, albeit the design of the ground takes you straight to the station. Last time around, we were held back for a while - so obviously the OB thought there was some potential for trouble. Surely, this stuff gets documented and forms the basis of future risk assessments.

 

The idea of a hold back, at least against Millwall over a bit of handbags, was always a nonstarter and a bit of a red herring. Focussing on it, as the letter did, allows the OB to do what it does best - and pontificate while sidestepping the real issue of why it didn't close the North car park which would have been the least intrusive and counterproductive solution.

 

Sh*t happens and the OB have the difficult and uneviable task of juggling competing considerations; but it remains that it got wrong here.

Edited by shurlock
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That it was but if the police had employed the same tactics that they did against Leeds, it would've all been avoided - that's the point people are trying to make and why people are assuming they wanted it to kick-off.

 

If they wanted it to kick off they wouldn't have bothered with all that stuff at the Leeds game, just let it kick off then. Such a stupid theory.

 

They are trying to tread the fine line between enforcing order and being accused of overreacting.

 

An example of this was the Burnley home game where things were getting tetchy, so the police brought out the dogs. On that occasion they were accused of causing the trouble by being too heavy handed. They can't win.

Edited by Barry the Badger
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If they wanted it to kick off they wouldn't have bothered with all that stuff at the Leeds game. Such a stupid theory.

 

I take it you have a good reason for why there wasn't the usual closure of the north car park (done for even teams like Swindon and Brighton) and absolutely minimal policing outside the Northam for the visit of the well known worst away support in the country? No-one else has been able to provide one.

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I take it you have a good reason for why there wasn't the usual closure of the north car park (done for even teams like Swindon and Brighton) and absolutely minimal policing outside the Northam for the visit of the well known worst away support in the country? No-one else has been able to provide one.

 

He clearly stated that hue reason is the authorities (police and club) are trying to balance safety and inconvenience, anyone who thinks there is a conspirisy isnt thinking straight. The police weren't far off getting it right, a bit of shoving and shouting only would suggest it wasn't worth closing the car park.

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An excellent, intelligent and well-argued response and good to see that they have abandoned the wholly reprehensible procedure of holdback. More intelligent policing like this and they will actually be in danger of winning people's respect back.

 

thanks for your input officer

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He clearly stated that hue reason is the authorities (police and club) are trying to balance safety and inconvenience, anyone who thinks there is a conspirisy isnt thinking straight. The police weren't far off getting it right, a bit of shoving and shouting only would suggest it wasn't worth closing the car park.

Plenty more than that happened. So within the space of two weeks, from the Leeds game to the Millwall match the police and club just decided to do away with all the basic security measures they take after the game and have genrally worked pretty well with little complaint and just happened to make that change for Millwall of all matches :lol: They've closed the car park plenty of times before and its worked pretty well and I have no doubt they will close it again in the future for club's with much less volatile support's than Millwall.

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My daughter and I were caught on the Millwall side of the separation and had to walk through the entire mob. Things like that don't bother me but it was as aggressive as it could get under the circumstances. So, with the exception of the skate bar-steward game, if they close the north car park for any other game, I would like to know the reason why because it doesn't get much worse than that. Otherwise the OB are talking carp.

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i still do not understand why we are locked in at Fratton but they are not at SMS' date=' it must be down to the Southampton Division Commander being pc[/quote']

 

But as it's been said, that same Southampton Police force didn't feel it infringed our 'human rights' holding us back in Southampton Central train station last time we (and I use the term lightly) played at farrton.

 

The home and away fixtures between us this season are gonna be interesting to say the least.

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i still do not understand why we are locked in at Fratton but they are not at SMS' date=' it must be down to the Southampton Division Commander being pc[/quote']

 

At the time; I was really annoyed we got kept in (the first premier game of the two) at krap nott arf for over an hour after the game. But when I heard about the trouble outside after the game, the following morning on Breakfast TV, I wasn't half pleased we were.

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and most of them are the ones that 'BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO' when the stadium announcer says the North Car park is going to be closed......

 

but it would not need to be closed if they locked them in for 10mins, i know of no other ground where the home supporters are inconvienced instead of away ones

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An excellent, intelligent and well-argued response and good to see that they have abandoned the wholly reprehensible procedure of holdback. More intelligent policing like this and they will actually be in danger of winning people's respect back.

 

*facepalm*

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