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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Some football policing 'still heavy-handed' | Some football policing 'still heavy-handed' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| By Rowan Bridge Reporter, BBC Radio 5 Live | By Rowan Bridge Reporter, BBC Radio 5 Live |
| Some football fans are still experiencing policing which is too heavy-handed, the Football Supporters Federation says. | Some football fans are still experiencing policing which is too heavy-handed, the Football Supporters Federation says. |
| A report by the FSF seen by BBC Radio 5Live says some policing is aggressive and indiscriminate". | A report by the FSF seen by BBC Radio 5Live says some policing is aggressive and indiscriminate". |
| It says that many forces have a positive approach, but some still use heavy-handed tactics. | It says that many forces have a positive approach, but some still use heavy-handed tactics. |
| The FSF wants to see more regular contact before, during and after games between fans and match police. | The FSF wants to see more regular contact before, during and after games between fans and match police. |
| In the 1970s and 80s football was plagued by hooliganism, with gangs such as the Chelsea Head Hunters, the Blades Business Crew and Derby Lunatic Fringe. | In the 1970s and 80s football was plagued by hooliganism, with gangs such as the Chelsea Head Hunters, the Blades Business Crew and Derby Lunatic Fringe. |
| Organised 'firms' would travel the country in search of a fight as much as football. | Organised 'firms' would travel the country in search of a fight as much as football. |
| In the years since, the game has done much to clean up its image - introducing banning orders on hooligans, family stands and all-seater stadiums. | In the years since, the game has done much to clean up its image - introducing banning orders on hooligans, family stands and all-seater stadiums. |
| But there are concerns that while the game may have moved on, some of those involved in policing it may not have come as far. | But there are concerns that while the game may have moved on, some of those involved in policing it may not have come as far. |
| The FSF report says some fans are still experiencing policing that is "disproportionate, overly aggressive and indiscriminate". | The FSF report says some fans are still experiencing policing that is "disproportionate, overly aggressive and indiscriminate". |
| Potential troublemakers | Potential troublemakers |
| The chairman of the FSF, Malcolm Clarke, told BBC Radio 5Live Breakfast that there were lots of examples of good practice. | The chairman of the FSF, Malcolm Clarke, told BBC Radio 5Live Breakfast that there were lots of examples of good practice. |
| But he said: "I think there have been occasions where the first assumption is that a particular group of supporters from a particular club might be potential troublemakers who have to be contained and controlled." | But he said: "I think there have been occasions where the first assumption is that a particular group of supporters from a particular club might be potential troublemakers who have to be contained and controlled." |
| The FSF wants officers deployed at games to be given training in "fan culture". | The FSF wants officers deployed at games to be given training in "fan culture". |
| One force that has already adopted some of the tactics called for by the FSF is Nottinghamshire. | One force that has already adopted some of the tactics called for by the FSF is Nottinghamshire. |
| Last Saturday Nottingham Forest played host to Millwall, a club whose reputation for violence among its followers was forged in the 1980s, though the club and its supporters have worked to clean up their image. | Last Saturday Nottingham Forest played host to Millwall, a club whose reputation for violence among its followers was forged in the 1980s, though the club and its supporters have worked to clean up their image. |
| At the morning police briefing, there was discussion of intelligence on "risk fans" (police-speak for people who may cause or get involved in trouble), as well as a potted history of Millwall and their form in the league. | At the morning police briefing, there was discussion of intelligence on "risk fans" (police-speak for people who may cause or get involved in trouble), as well as a potted history of Millwall and their form in the league. |
| "Millwall, unbeaten in the last six fixtures," says an officer. "Top scorer, Darion Henderson, he scored six goals. Head to head against Forest they are leading…" | "Millwall, unbeaten in the last six fixtures," says an officer. "Top scorer, Darion Henderson, he scored six goals. Head to head against Forest they are leading…" |
| It is like cross a between an episode of The Bill and Football Focus. | It is like cross a between an episode of The Bill and Football Focus. |
| 'Classed as hooligan' | 'Classed as hooligan' |
| An hour before kick-off and the Millwall fans who have travelled up for the fixture are in a bar enjoying a pint before the game starts. | An hour before kick-off and the Millwall fans who have travelled up for the fixture are in a bar enjoying a pint before the game starts. |
| In a slightly incongruous scene, a man with Millwall tattooed across his fingers is having a friendly chat with an officer wearing a fluorescent jacket with Football Liaison Officer written on the back. | In a slightly incongruous scene, a man with Millwall tattooed across his fingers is having a friendly chat with an officer wearing a fluorescent jacket with Football Liaison Officer written on the back. |
| The idea is that if both sides get to know each other better, the day will pass off more smoothly. | The idea is that if both sides get to know each other better, the day will pass off more smoothly. |
| It is a million miles away from the containment strategies of a massive show of force, to make sure fans do not get out of hand. | It is a million miles away from the containment strategies of a massive show of force, to make sure fans do not get out of hand. |
| For supporter Millwall Gaz, it is a welcome change from what he has experienced elsewhere. | For supporter Millwall Gaz, it is a welcome change from what he has experienced elsewhere. |
| "You are classed as hooligan," he says. "The minute you get off the train you are literally just a hooligan. You have no rights. | "You are classed as hooligan," he says. "The minute you get off the train you are literally just a hooligan. You have no rights. |
| "You are pushed, shoved, you get into the game and they want you home as soon as possible. No in-betweens." | "You are pushed, shoved, you get into the game and they want you home as soon as possible. No in-betweens." |
| Not all of Nottinghamshire's tactics are so welcome, though. | Not all of Nottinghamshire's tactics are so welcome, though. |
| At the city's main train station officers and Forest stewards are directing fans towards the ground. | At the city's main train station officers and Forest stewards are directing fans towards the ground. |
| The officer that catches my eye, though, is holding a camcorder and filming everyone who gets off the train. | The officer that catches my eye, though, is holding a camcorder and filming everyone who gets off the train. |
| It is one of the strategies that the Football Supporters' Federation says causes tension with fans. | It is one of the strategies that the Football Supporters' Federation says causes tension with fans. |
| Violent disorder | Violent disorder |
| Its report says fans "expressed concerns in terms of potential invasion of privacy or because it leads fans to feel that they are being unnecessarily treated as hooligans". | Its report says fans "expressed concerns in terms of potential invasion of privacy or because it leads fans to feel that they are being unnecessarily treated as hooligans". |
| The force's Football Intelligence Officer - who asked not to be named - acknowledges that the tactic is controversial, but he says it is justified. | The force's Football Intelligence Officer - who asked not to be named - acknowledges that the tactic is controversial, but he says it is justified. |
| "Over the past year we've arrested over 40 people for very serious public order offences - and we're talking violent disorder and affray. | "Over the past year we've arrested over 40 people for very serious public order offences - and we're talking violent disorder and affray. |
| "The use of evidence earlier in the day allows us to compare images like for like against those caught on CCTV in the disorder. | "The use of evidence earlier in the day allows us to compare images like for like against those caught on CCTV in the disorder. |
| "Had we just targeted [known troublemakers] that footage would never have existed, and ultimately you would have missed out on the full intelligence picture." | "Had we just targeted [known troublemakers] that footage would never have existed, and ultimately you would have missed out on the full intelligence picture." |
| Nottinghamshire's touchy-feely approach to policing the game comes into its own at the ground. | Nottinghamshire's touchy-feely approach to policing the game comes into its own at the ground. |
| As well as chatting to fans in the pub ahead of the game, football liaison officers also make a point of mingling with fans during half-time. | As well as chatting to fans in the pub ahead of the game, football liaison officers also make a point of mingling with fans during half-time. |
| They also join in the discussions of where the team is going right and wrong as supporters grab a drink. | They also join in the discussions of where the team is going right and wrong as supporters grab a drink. |
| That certainly helps early in the second-half with one potentially-explosive incident. After a Millwall fan headbutts one of his fellow Lions fans, the police have to move in and the tension in the ground rises noticeably. | That certainly helps early in the second-half with one potentially-explosive incident. After a Millwall fan headbutts one of his fellow Lions fans, the police have to move in and the tension in the ground rises noticeably. |
| But this is quickly spotted by one of the fan liaison officers, who gently moves her colleague aside and successfully calms the situation. | But this is quickly spotted by one of the fan liaison officers, who gently moves her colleague aside and successfully calms the situation. |
| After all, it's a lot harder to yell at someone you were chatting to about the game just a few minutes earlier. | After all, it's a lot harder to yell at someone you were chatting to about the game just a few minutes earlier. |