Police Apologise to Fans - Shock

[FSF]

No, your eyes don’t deceive you, this actually happened. Forgive us for blowing our own trumpets, but it’s not as if the police are going to do it for us on this occasion

Last week saw an almost unprecedented apology from one of the country’s top policemen to a group of football supporters. Ian Hopkins, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), attended a Fans Forum to personally apologise for the treatment of fans by his officers.

For more on this, see the full story: http://www.fsf.org.uk/news/police-say-sorry-to-fans.php

The Football Supporters Federation stands up for fans across the country, and it’s good to see that our work is beginning to pay off. We campaigned successfully against the misuse of Section 27 legislation last season, we’ve been working with Sunderland fans in an ongoing investigation into police brutality by Northumbria Police this season, as well as helping fans in individual cases week-in, week-out.

The FSF is there for when the shit hits the fan, but we’re far more than that – find out more about getting involved and join for free (and get yourself a couple of freebies) at www.fsf.org.uk/join.php

 

[Bronno]

GMP always seem to be ones that you hear the worst stories of abuse and excessive treatment concerning fans, so I suppose this is a good start to repairing some of that reputation.

 

[FSF]

GMP always seem to be ones that you hear the worst stories of abuse and excessive treatment concerning fans, so I suppose this is a good start to repairing some of that reputation.

Yep, hopefully after this (and the Section 27 stuff) we'll start to see a change in attitude in their treatment of away fans. They're just the start, though, as I'm sure some on here would say that other forces can be just as bad.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Excellent stuff, I've seen some pretty shocking things done by police to football fans.

Last year at the Emirates there was a guy who got a bit overexcited and stood on a seat. Instead of asking him to get down the copper fully pushed him off and when I objected he pushed me quite forcefully and then threatened to arrest me. After the game, I went up to another policeman and he didn't want to know, just shrugged his shoulders. I really should have complained about it to be honest.

 

[FSF]

Excellent stuff, I've seen some pretty shocking things done by police to football fans.

Last year at the Emirates there was a guy who got a bit overexcited and stood on a seat. Instead of asking him to get down the copper fully pushed him off and when I objected he pushed me quite forcefully and then threatened to arrest me. After the game, I went up to another policeman and he didn't want to know, just shrugged his shoulders. I really should have complained about it to be honest.

Definitely. In those circumstances, try to get a badge number off their shoulder, and definitely make a complaint (to the Met, and to the FSF as we'll be able to assist).

 

[ShelfSide18]

Definitely. In those circumstances, try to get a badge number off their shoulder, and definitely make a complaint (to the Met, and to the FSF as we'll be able to assist).

Bit late now seeing as it was a year ago!

Incidentally, the 'policeman' in question is quite easily visible as he was quite clearly on TV pushing Aaron Lennon away from the Spurs fans at the end of the game when all the celebrations were going on.

Just one man on a power trip.

 

[Bronno]

Actually, looking into it a bit more, this was concerning the circumstances where Stoke fans (who were perfectly well-behaved) were herded onto a bus and kept there without toilet facilities, before being shipped back to Stoke. I believe there was a thread on here somewhere at the time and I remember reading about it on Liberty.

I thought at the time how disgraceful it was that the police had abused their powers in such a way (though not entirely surprised). Disgusting way for legislation to be used against the very citizens it is designed to protect.

Nice to know something positive resulted from the criticism levelled at their actions.

 

[Bronno]

Oh, and congratulations.

 

[FSF]

Actually, looking into it a bit more, this was concerning the circumstances where Stoke fans (who were perfectly well-behaved) were herded onto a bus and kept there without toilet facilities, before being shipped back to Stoke. I believe there was a thread on here somewhere at the time and I remember reading about it on Liberty.

I thought at the time how disgraceful it was that the police had abused their powers in such a way (though not entirely surprised). Disgusting way for legislation to be used against the very citizens it is designed to protect.

Nice to know something positive resulted from the criticism levelled at their actions.

Nope, this was a completely separate incident.

The Section 27 incident (the one you detail above) happened at their game against Man United last year. This relates to them being bundled onto trains heading to Victoria instead of Piccadilly, then being corralled there and forcibly marched across the city, along with some poor conduct by individual officers on the day.

Same police force, lessons not learned. Good that they've come out and apologised, though.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Nope, this was a completely separate incident.

The Section 27 incident (the one you detail above) happened at their game against Man United last year. This relates to them being bundled onto trains heading to Victoria instead of Piccadilly, then being corralled there and forcibly marched across the city, along with some poor conduct by individual officers on the day.

Same police force, lessons not learned. Good that they've come out and apologised, though.

Sounds familiar, I've been bundled on trains and buses I didn't want to get on before - and been threatened with arrest when I say I don't want to get on.

I'm fully behind this campaign because I'm fed up with being presumed guilty and a hooligan just because I go to watch my football team, especially away from home.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

*glances down the fixture list*


oooooh, Milwall -v- Leeds tomorrow. Could be interesting :think:

If this goes off without a hitch (how unlikely is that?) then the Police will rightly be over the moon at the new approach. If it ends up the warzone i expect it will turn out to be, this'll just add weight to their heavy handed methods in particular situations...

It's as much dependent on fans behaviour as it is on Police attitude and practices.