Pogleswoody":3oficll2 said:Leigham Green":3oficll2 said:Sadly this is a corner that football has backed itself into. The police can take no chances where any sort of local derby or threat is concerned. Whether we are at home or away to the likes of City, Swindon, Portsmouth or the Bristol teams, away fans are going to get herded to and from the stadium.
Somebody mentioned Watford a while ago. My brother lived many years just across the road from Vicarage Road.
(Aynho St if you're interested, lovely view of the cemetery)
Once, after a game they were keenly urging us away from the stadium, march round 3 sides then off to Watford Junction whether you came by train or not. My brother helpfully waved his front door key and said: 'There, I live there!'.
We were threatened with arrest but held our ground and asked for a Senior Officer, policeman then decided we'd be best off on a supporter's coach, any coach, whether we came by coach or not!
We eventually found a policeman who didn't just say: 'Doing my job, sir'. He walked to the door with us and brother let himself in!
That seemed to satisfy him but I still worry that we could have been banged up for breaking and entering!!
(Yes pedants, don't bother! We had a key! I know!)
Yes, it is a difficult job but pragmatism, common sense and adaptability are great traits in a PC! :thumbs:
Had a similar thing last time I went to Portsmouth by car. As they held us near the train station, I asked why we were being held. "Because we don't want overcrowding on the platform, Sir" came the reply. I told him my car was parked just a couple of hundred metres further along the street and he wouldn't budge saying we were all getting on the train. Had to loudly ask for a senior officer and then ask loudly if I was being unlawfully being detained as I wasn't getting on the train and therefore should be allowed to make my way out of the cordon. The question about whether or not I was being detained struck a chord and I was allowed to leave.