Mike, the truth does not and can not come in between as the point you are
making is very different.
You are addressing a point about the police being perceived as being heavy
handed and I understand that having been in a similar position myself. I was
highlighting that the FSF was making a point about the CPS and punishments,
their statement as written is not factually correct.
The police are in a precarious position, regardless of whether you have hit
someone or not, there is always the possibility that someone may do it to
you. They have to look at what could possibly happen, part of the police's
role in policing events is not about detecting crime but about mitigating
risks and ensuring that any disturbance is kept at a minimum. My uncle used
to be in charge of policing large events within west yorkshire and often
spent saturdays at ER or valley parade and I have heard / seen what goes on
on the other side of the fence.
The main point I was making (which you agree with) is that a lot of laws are
made as a result of a knee jerk reaction to an incident, when really the
application of existing laws more effectively is the key, and example of
which is that the FSF continuously make comment about Section 27 when really
the police have similar powers with Section 60 (apart from the removal from
site for 48 hours) and have been able to move on groups of people for the
past 150 years.
It is the legacy of the knobheads who caused the aggro in the 70's and 80's
that have caused the issue now and not the CPS / Police / Judiciary and it
is about time that the FSF recognised.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Michael ALCOCK" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 2:00 PM
To: "Chris Briggs" <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [LU] Of interest?
I'm not so sure Chris, I think the truth is somewhere inbetween and
quite often comes down to individual police forces and or officers.
For example at whatever tiny train station we waited at in transit
between Hartlepool and Darlington last week there were twice as many
police as supporters (we numbered about 20) why? It was hardly a prime
location for disorder/looting or whatever crimes they were presumably
there to prevent. Totally unnecessary and heavy handed.
After Bristol Rovers a couple of years ago I (and hundreds of others)
were held back for ages after the match (I missed my train and had to
pay a fortune to get another) and every single officer I spoke to was
rude, unhelpful and agressive. I took this up with Avon and Somerset
and got a full apology from a senior officer.
In London (and I appreciate I'm tempting fate here seeing as I'm off
to Hamilton Hall tomorrow) the police are more relaxed (trips to the
Den aside) and less insistent on herding you around forcing you to go
in escorts etc.
And of course I take your point about blaming the idiots who caused
all the over-zealous policing in the first place. But seeing as I've
never hit anyone at a football match in my life, I find it hard been
treated like someone who has a lot of the time.
Just my thoughts for what it's worth.
Cheers
Mike
On 12 February 2010 13:23, Chris Briggs <[email protected]> wrote:
Wow, that all seems a little blinkered and paranoid.
It seems a little unfair to blame the CPS for doing their job to the best
of
their ability with the tools (charging mechanisms, evidence presented and
the Law) available to them.
If they wish to have a go at someone have a go at the law makers, ie, the
politicians, they are to ones that brought in the supplementary banning
orders, etc. OR if they wish to blame the correct people for the
legislation
surrounding attending football matches, etc, blame the fucking idiots
whose
behaviour brought about the change in the first place.
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