Investigation into 'heavy-handed' East Lancashire derby policing (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Investigation into 'heavy-handed' East Lancashire derby policing
5:54pm Thursday 1st April 2010 in News
Investigation into 'heavy-handed' East Lancashire derby policing
POLICE have been accused of using heavy-handed tactics after video footage posted on the internet showed them hitting Burnley fans with batons.
MP Kitty Ussher and the Football Supporters' Federation are calling for a full investigation after viewing the 40-second clip taken during last weekend's derby with Blackburn Rovers.
Police have referred their controlling of the match to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), but defended the tactics used.
The clip, filmed in the David Fishwick Stand, also known as the Cricket Field Stand, at the end of Sunday's derby match, shows officers using their batons to try and disperse around 30 fans from the home end.
One officer in particular is seen to use his baton around a dozen times to hit fans who were heading for the exits.
Police said a 'small number' of Burnley fans refused to leave the stand, and objects were being thrown.
The force said the group then surged forward and knocked over officers, so police used the 'nationally approved' tactics of using their asp batons.
No injuries had been reported, police said.
Mrs Ussher, MP for Burnley, said it looked as if inappropriate levels of force had been used.
She said: "I agree with the Football Supporters' Federation and my constituents who are concerned about it and I would be happy to support their call for it to be reviewed.
"Then we can get an independent decision as to whether it was over the top".
A huge policing operation across East Lancashire saw 43 people arrested on the day, and 150 seats were ripped up by Blackburn Rovers fans.
The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF), which represents fans across the country and is the best known supporters group in the UK with more than 140,000 members, slammed the action of the police.
Amanda Jacks, who sits on the executive committee for the FSF, said: "We have got huge concerns about the way that the match was policed.
"The video footage is of particular concern. As I understand it a police officer can only use their baton in that aggressive way if they seriously fear for their safety.
"We have concerns across the board over the heavy-handed way in which the match was policed.
"There must a be a full review of the policing operation on the day.
"We have been contacted by many fans who are upset at what happened.
"We are all aware of the potential for trouble at the match and the difficult job the police had but that does not mean that their behaviour should not be scrutinised."
Yesterday the FSF were appealing for Burnley fans involved to contact them, and had sent the footage to a solicitor.
The YouTube video, which has been given an obscure title, has already been viewed 2,500 times.
Peter Pike, chairman of the Clarets Trust, said the video raised concerns but some fans weren't entirely innocent.
"We know that there were actions taken by a minority of fans from both sides that were totally unacceptable.
"There is going to be a de-briefing at which the trust will be involved and I am sure the police and Burnley Football Club are already looking at any concerns raised and the decisions taken.
"I would urge any eye witnesses who have any information to contact the police, the club or ourselves so that we can pursue it further if needed to establish what happened."
A police spokesman said they had started a 'thorough review' of the policing of the game, which Blackburn won 1-0.
He said: "As a matter of procedure we have also voluntarily referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
"The main aim of any football policing operation is to maintain public safety and to ensure that people get to and from the ground safely.
"We are pleased to say as always, the vast majority of supporters behaved impeccably.
"This incident occurred at the end of the match when a small number of Burnley fans refused to leave the Cricket Field Stand.
"Stewards and police officers tried to persuade this group to leave and during this time objects were being thrown from both sides.
"This group then surged forward and knocked over officers.
"The officers drew their asps and dispersed the crowd.
"This is a nationally-approved tactic and there have been no reports of any injuries.
"In addition to the review of the policing operation, Lancashire Constabulary, Burnley Football Club and Blackburn Rovers Football Club have launched an investigation into the behaviour of some of those supporters situated in both sides of the Cricket Field Stand."
Comments(29)
Miller11
says...
6:02pm Thu 1 Apr 10
info@fsf.org.uk
This organisation represents the interests of supporters, and they are investigating the policing.
Anyone who was there, and was unhappy with the way the game was handled, please get in touch.
AnimalReid
says...
6:58pm Thu 1 Apr 10
...
He sits next to me in the Blackburn End - he never says much and he is so quiet. I never realised he hated Burnley so much.
...
They say its always the quiet ones
smellthecoffee
says...
7:14pm Thu 1 Apr 10
AnimalReid wrote:Funny AnimalReid....it is April Fools Day tho. Seriously, these coppers become tough guys when surrounded by colleagues with a baton in their hand. Would they be as free with their violence in a one-on-one bare knuckle fight?? Who's really causing the violence in that video...???
you see that policeman who keeps hitting the Burnley fans? ... He sits next to me in the Blackburn End - he never says much and he is so quiet. I never realised he hated Burnley so much. ... They say its always the quiet ones
Markr
says...
7:38pm Thu 1 Apr 10
And you wonder Mr plod why so many people hate you, I know quit a few totally innocent (never been in trouble) Burnley fans that you big hard thugs beat with their trungeons, I just hope that one day you meet some of these lads in a dark alley and get what you deserve.
As for the defending oneself excuse comes into it, if you have one terrorist in a country do you bomb the lot of them ?... supposed to be a civilised country who caes about civil rights. too long have the facist police force been answerable to no one but themselves.
Celtic Rover
says...
7:53pm Thu 1 Apr 10
oneintheeye
says...
9:16pm Thu 1 Apr 10
chris283
says...
10:48pm Thu 1 Apr 10
pip-pip
says...
11:41pm Thu 1 Apr 10
oneintheeye wrote:Spot on, one in the eye. But this won't placate the to33ers above, who seem to be rather deficient in the brain department. Oops! bearing in mind the plight of BFC should I have called them losers? Is it true that Portsmouth could finish the season above Burnley??
What a load of rubbish!! This one sided video doesn't show what led up to the police officers acting the way they did. It just shows the end result. Look carefully and you will see the rest of the ground was empty. This group of so called clarets supporters had held back deliberately to have a go and try to attack the Rovers fans that were leaving. They charged and assaulted the police officers on that line. Yes the police had a right to defend themselves and anyone that got a whack should have been arrested. Sometimes though circumstances don't allow for that so they have to be cleared away instead. The only reason these mindless thugs are in the David Fishwick stand is so they can have a "go", game after game at the away supporters who sit a few rows away from them. Its a rubbish stand with a poor view so the only reason for being there is because it makes them look and feel hard in the face of the opposition. They should be ashamed of themselves. Kitty Usher has a way of wasting tax payers money and she is now urging for more to be wasted. The ground CCTV footage will clearly show these cops coming under attack and having to deal with a difficult situation. The Burnley Fans could have left, but they didn't. The officers didn't have a choice and they had to clear the stand. One things is for certain, I wont be buying a season ticket for Burnley again as this type behaviour shames us all.
Andy Pot Porter
says...
5:31am Fri 2 Apr 10
Towserisgod
says...
8:42am Fri 2 Apr 10
AltiRover
says...
10:10am Fri 2 Apr 10
your message would be quite amusing if you were not deluded enough to believe it. Your 'fans' couldn't be bothered to turn up for the game itself, so they should have done the right thing and made a swift exit at the whistle, like any normal person would do after suffering that embarrassment.
But then your 'fans' are part of the embarrassment, so much for a crackling derby atmosphere, the only thing you cracked was one of our coach windows. You should be embarrassed that you didn't back your team and make some noise.
At the end of the day, if the Burnley fans waited around to incite trouble at the end of the game and started a surge, the police were well within their right to act within the law and protocol to stem the surge and ensure safety.
Grow up and we'll see you in 30 years, cos the way your lot are heading it's going to be a long time til you are up again. Which is actually a bit of a shame cos we do like playing you!
NICEONESUNSHINE
says...
11:42am Fri 2 Apr 10
.
The simple fact is that they were hell bent on making trouble and the Police did what they had to to get them out of the ground.
.
Burnley have a reputation for hooliganism and they should'nt be suprised that they are treated with heavy handed tactics by the authorities. They reap what they sow......
Nostradamous
says...
12:51pm Fri 2 Apr 10
In my opinion......
says...
12:55pm Fri 2 Apr 10
We all know these louts were intent on causing trouble but they didn't get their own way this time.
Well done the police for showing a bit of backbone and giving these chavs summat tho think about the next time they contemplate such behaviour...a few broken ribs might have been a better deterrent though.
Maybe Lancs Constabulary could learn off their GMP colleagues where one voilent individual recently lost an eye and suffered broken limbs whilst resisting arrest.
Andy Pot Porter
says...
1:48pm Fri 2 Apr 10
disgusted tunbridge wells
says...
2:23pm Fri 2 Apr 10
bankhall
says...
2:51pm Fri 2 Apr 10
dadada
says...
4:58pm Fri 2 Apr 10
Salzburg(Heaven)
says...
5:54pm Fri 2 Apr 10
blackburn south
says...
6:27pm Fri 2 Apr 10
In my opinion......
says...
6:53pm Fri 2 Apr 10
blackburn south
says...
8:47pm Fri 2 Apr 10
In my opinion...... wrote:ghjbmbhghbmghg
Does anybody know what the obscure title is of the clip on you tube?
Mlancs
says...
9:36pm Fri 2 Apr 10
Morst
says...
8:07am Sat 3 Apr 10
Mlancs wrote:The whole police planning of the game spelt out ZERO TOLERANCE in capitals -
the Burnley were really agressive at the end of the game, they did not make any attempt to leave and the police did the right thing.
But a Dingle is a Dingle!
.
31st........32nd (11 days countdown)!
Alf Hart
says...
10:57am Sat 3 Apr 10
;0)
31 years & counting
philipmorris
says...
4:42pm Sat 3 Apr 10
All police violence is to be condemned. But they have a tough job and i think the vaast majority of them do their level best in difficult circumstances.
Ossy Claret
Andy Pot Porter
says...
10:08am Sun 4 Apr 10
philipmorris wrote:Phil, actually I'm a published bestselling author. Are these rumours that you are a deep-cover, fifth columnist, Quisling jib true?
Andy thats not you. How do i know : cos you can barely write in joined up writing let alone type analysis like that;-). All police violence is to be condemned. But they have a tough job and i think the vaast majority of them do their level best in difficult circumstances. Ossy Claret
Davidoff
says...
11:18pm Tue 6 Apr 10
.
Then I also used to attend international matches. Remember that one time when rival fans went outside the ground, back of the stand (Wrexham think it was) and because the stand had a low roof and a long slope to the pitch downwards uncovered, rocks, glass, bottles, stones were hurled over the top at the people underneath. So you think football 'violence' or hooliganism (either the fault of the police or fans cos what I saw you could easily see which side instigated it, but in a crowd it's easily hidden from and much easier to get away with at a later stage when it comes to 'witnesses' cos you can't really see through a crowd of people constantly moving but up close you can) is bad now ...
.
As to law abiding citizens. There were riots in London in the last couple of years. Police lashed out at people leaving work who just happened to get caught up in it because they had no other way to get round on the streets. We've all seen by now probably the video clips of one such incident where a baton comes flying out, striking the head of a man who was merely leaving work ... who then died at the scene. It's been a long time coming but for those in the public who know and can see such things but ... some just should not be in those uniforms. They are in the wrong job. Forget stressful situations as people can be faced with those daily (and worse) for whatever reason as that is usually an excuse. The reason is that that is already inside them to be like that, it just needs an 'excuse' or trigger and ... there you go. No one becomes a violent person unless they are already one to start off with; by that I mean as in the case I describe above, not to fight for yourself in self defense, but even then. Like I said, what you got to see at pitch level, in the crowds behind you ... went unseen in the rest of the ground. Out of sight, out of mind.
.
Mind you, at a night match a long time ago now in Tottenham police shepherded all the fans away from the ground very quickly. We were told it was because of worries over attacks from their fans as we went to our coaches. I don't doubt it, either in those days and won't be any different these days, either. Why should it be? So, there are problems on both sides. And the third side being those who deliberately attend matches purely to cause violence and no other reason than that. They've even made a few factual based movies on the subject. If it didn't happen then those movies wouldn't get made.
Morst says...
6:01pm Thu 1 Apr 10
.
31st...