they were alright as has been said left the coaches well alone and didnt really care if there was booze on them or not, got us away from the ground quicker than i thought and meant we all just rolled in and out
THe number of police outside and in the ground was way over the top. Yes individualy they where polite and easy to approach, but just the number was intimidating.
They were great, but the numbers made no sense. We walked 30 seconds down the road, did a right at the garage and were then with the home fans.. not quite sure of the point of the metal barriers.
I realised that nobody from the Trust previously flagged up this article on the Trust site. I got to speak to SYP on behalf of the Trust. It seems that they still considered it a high risk game because there was so much hinging on the result; also there was the element, that the nice police officer didnt say in exactly these words, that they were still suffering from the criticism of their unpreparedness for the Forest barney. She made it clear that there was no special concern about CAFC fans. I'm glad that most people found them to be polite and friendly. Actually the local Met guys could learn a thing or two from the officer who took my call. A bit more open-ness and understanding of the fans' position would go a long way to deflecting the criticism they get over some of our games.
We stopped in chesterfield for a beer came into Sheffield from there pulled out in front of the escort. Police must have wondered who's the hell we got there
Thought they were absolutely fine. We were at the ground early & parked in the staff car park. Saw all the coaches arrive, all well organised. Wall was OTT, but they were all polite & no issues at all walking through it afterwards.
Sheff U apparently have the highest number of "risk" individuals in the country. That said, had no problem with them the night before or on the day itself.
SYP wouldn't let me through the wall. I'd been staying with friends about half a mile the other side of it. Surly girl copper said I would be allowed through it and would have to wait until all our coaches had gone and the wall would be taken down. Didn't think there would be enough time to wait for that to happen and make it back to the station to make our train home. So I've left a bag with my stinking underwear in it around my mates house. He's a Blade though, so who cares.
Our Union Rep on our bus explained there is something like an 18 day notification period for overtime / extra shifts or something or other, so the level of policing was effectively signed off before the outcome of us / Wednesday was determined.
Massive easy money exercise for all those involved.
Our Union Rep on our bus explained there is something like an 18 day notification period for overtime / extra shifts or something or other, so the level of policing was effectively signed off before the outcome of us / Wednesday was determined.
Massive easy money exercise for all those involved.
And that is interesting because if you read the Trust article, you'll see she claimed that we could not have the 17.15 Saturday slot because they could not get the required extra support from surrounding counties for that slot (but could on Sunday, hence the presence of Durham police). The question remains whether they had a good enough reason to justify all that resource. But after the Forest thing, might be fair to give them a break.
But as we have written, this will go on and on until there is a national push from fans to politicians to do something about it.
Nothing wrong with SYP. Very polite and even let me go through the wall to get to my car which was parked 5 mins walk from the ground
Same here. although as we went through another copper had a go at him for letting us go saying you shouldnt let them through, you know what the brief is.
Our Union Rep on our bus explained there is something like an 18 day notification period for overtime / extra shifts or something or other, so the level of policing was effectively signed off before the outcome of us / Wednesday was determined.
Massive easy money exercise for all those involved.
And that is interesting because if you read the Trust article, you'll see she claimed that we could not have the 17.15 Saturday slot because they could not get the required extra support from surrounding counties for that slot (but could on Sunday, hence the presence of Durham police).
Wasn't the police issue with a saturday kick off to do with the fact that Leeds, Barnsley and Doncaster were all at home that day?
There were a lot of police but they were fine. Never saw them hassling anyone, in fact they were being very friendly and chatty to Charlton fans. They had a job to do and they did it. Also the stewards were fine, didn`t see any problems with them either.
Our Union Rep on our bus explained there is something like an 18 day notification period for overtime / extra shifts or something or other, so the level of policing was effectively signed off before the outcome of us / Wednesday was determined.
Massive easy money exercise for all those involved.
And that is interesting because if you read the Trust article, you'll see she claimed that we could not have the 17.15 Saturday slot because they could not get the required extra support from surrounding counties for that slot (but could on Sunday, hence the presence of Durham police).
Wasn't the police issue with a saturday kick off to do with the fact that Leeds, Barnsley and Doncaster were all at home that day?
Sheffield Utd were due to play at home against Rotherham on Saturday, a local derby. Think it was more a case of we planned on a steel city derby and we are going to police regardless of whether the Wendies got through.
We left a few minutes early and there were 15 doughnuts bouncing about in a side street behind the away end. As we walked up the police piled down the road and made it clear they were to do one. Pretty good in my opinion, even if there were loads of them with tanks etc. If we had won it could have got tasty with thousands of rival fans all exiting largely the same way and there would probably have been fewer grumbles about how many of them were on duty. Still not enough to nick that Div who ran down to pose at the front in the corner after they scored the second. I was tempted to hit him myself.
I'd suggest that once there was a (good) chance that it was going to be a Sheffield derby then a load of syp would have been warned for the game. Once warned then they, the officers, can stand down if they so wish or come in for some lovely overtime when it was only us coming up. They cannot be stood down once warned. I think.
Comments
was expecting a much different approach
which can't be said of SYP who took it upon themselves to shit all over the pavement/road.
Sheff U apparently have the highest number of "risk" individuals in the country. That said, had no problem with them the night before or on the day itself.
Surly girl copper said I would be allowed through it and would have to wait until all our coaches had gone and the wall would be taken down. Didn't think there would be enough time to wait for that to happen and make it back to the station to make our train home. So I've left a bag with my stinking underwear in it around my mates house. He's a Blade though, so who cares.
Massive easy money exercise for all those involved.
But as we have written, this will go on and on until there is a national push from fans to politicians to do something about it.
Wasn't the police issue with a saturday kick off to do with the fact that Leeds, Barnsley and Doncaster were all at home that day?
Keep him out at Millwall can you as I got the girls round Saturday! Cheers mate!
" yeah okay. "