Train Station Pushing - policing yesterday

[Deleted member 1486]

A couple of thousand fans at the train station yesterday. Plod were locking the doors to the train station so if (when) there was pushing people didn't get pushed onto the platform. To make matters worse, about 100 coppers were stood in a line funneling people in from the road into the narrow doorway.

First couple of trains left without incident, there seemed to be a hold up for the third. Everyone was getting a bit irate, being there for an hour with little to no movement. I think those at the back thought those of us at the front were being held up by a line of police and started pushing. Those right at the front went face first into the glass doors, there were a few kids around me (including mine) and thankfully the fans around us around started pushing back to create some room for them and helped them over to the wall where there was less pressure, and eventually behind a door (for which I am very grateful).

This had the potential to turn nasty. I think the only reason no punches were thrown is because those crushed knew it wasn't people directly behind responsible.

Still, it was dangerous, and could have easily gone very wrong (the police knew this, because there were pulling the kids aside once inside the station and asking them if they were okay and needed a drink). I'm not blaming those who didn't open the doors (who probably prevented a worse situation from occurring), but the plod who were in a line and filtering fans into the station should have broke up/backed off and allowed the crowd some room, especially as many people were looking to leave the queue anyway!

And those pushing need to grow up (I saw one fat twat heaving into the crowd in front of him as hard as he could). We already know how badly a situation like this could end! Did you even save 1 second off your journey home? Just stupidity!

 

[curtisblades]

It was an absolute shambles from a number of parties.
A- Surely there is another door in Barnsley Station that was less of a deathtrap.
B- The police I thought were very poorly organised. They should have either lined up on one side of the pavement and funnelled everyone through, avoiding the free for all. Or they could have separated everyone into groups as they have done at Wembley. I actually said to one police officer on the platform that someone is going to seriously hurt themselves in the crush. He just nodded and said 'I know'. Shocking.
C- The train service. Does it not make sense to run 5+ carriage trains or would that be seen by shareholders as inefficient.

However this did not ruin a thoroughly enjoyable away day. Great match and UTB

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Not station related but how long did it take to clear the stadium at the end?! Aren't they supposed to have a 6 minute clearance these days?

Didn't really care with us winning, but surely the police should consider these things when putting up their war zone barricades outside the away end.

 

[sitwell]

There were only 18 k there. The organisation was pathetic and an embarrassment to the police and Barnsley fc ,especially with inquests. going on concerning how bad they were decades ago. It isn't as if this was a one off, they spent a season in the top flight not long back. The catering was a joke too, I know the other clubs in the area have new grounds but they have the worst facilities of all the regions clubs.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Not station related but how long did it take to clear the stadium at the end?! Aren't they supposed to have a 6 minute clearance these days?

Didn't really care with us winning, but surely the police should consider these things when putting up their war zone barricades outside the away end.

Took until 2.30 to clear the away end, only know as we had to wait for that police barrier thing outside the ground to be moved. Coppers had said they'll move it once the away end is cleared, and surprisingly they were true to their word. Still a pain in arse having to wait 20+ minutes just to get to my car. Personally, I'd have rather took my chances wading through the inbreds than having to wait.

 

[Linz]

It was a complete shambles yesterday... With Police from other forces (Cleveland and Durham) trying to run the show. We know one of the stewards and his submitted report was less than glowing.

You might have seen that I tweeted the Football Supporters' Federation yesterday. I'm fed up of being treated like an animal at away grounds. I do have sympathy for the Police on the ground, who often have little confidence in the decisions made above their heads. And I know that there is a proportion of idiots who go to football, drink too much and cause bother.

But perhaps the Police should do the job of dealing with the idiots instead of infringing the civil liberties of law abiding citizens?

 

[sitwell]

Must stop dinking

With all the restrictions and measures they had in place ,was there really a need for a 12.15 kick off and a drinking ban ?
The police actually caused problems rather than solve them yesterday.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I thought there were two major faults with the policing. Firstly they allowed the fans to fan out around the station door, when there was already a queue on the path. Fans wanted the jump the queue and just went on the road. This meant you were pushed from all sides when people tried to get into the station. Secondly the lack of communication about the wait. If it was an hour wait tell everyone so they know. The idiot fans pushing were morons but there were so many police doing nothing they could have had a funnel outside getting fans into single file and commuicating what the current situation is.
Overall very poor but not helped by idiots.

 

[Small Mendonca]

Are you sure this is the case? The police in these parts have a great record of crowd control......oh............................

 

[raul]

On the upside, if you are a Tipp-Ex salesman, get ready for a bumper crop of orders.

 

[Small Mendonca]

It took us virtually an hour to leave the away end car park. I was actually speaking to a copper yesterday in the away end car park about how un-organised it was and he said it was shocking and they've asked the club to do something about it but they won't. Ironic really as although the club's facilities were poor, the efforts made by the police to control the situation were worse.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Took until 2.30 to clear the away end, only know as we had to wait for that police barrier thing outside the ground to be moved. Coppers had said they'll move it once the away end is cleared, and surprisingly they were true to their word. Still a pain in arse having to wait 20+ minutes just to get to my car. Personally, I'd have rather took my chances wading through the inbreds than having to wait.

We'd parked on the old brewery site, which was just down the hill behind the away end, though we had to walk right round the ground to get to it.

Afterwards, we had no choice but to go in the exact opposite direction up the hill past all the coaches because of the barrier. At the top of the hill there was yet another barrier, which meant we couldn't turn left there either and had to go all the way down the hill almost to the station before we could set off in the right direction.That didn't really matter, it was a nice day for a walk and we couldn't go anywhere in the car as the traffic was still gridlocked an hour after the final whistle.

The whole barrier thing seemed to be a huge overreaction and I suppose they must be legal, but can the police just close roads at will?

 

[SwissBlade]

I wasn't there, but it Sounds shocking and no doubt the police will consider it a success as no major incident took place.

I've said it before but keeping fans apart with barriers, barricades and funnelling large groups is not the answer. It only takes one incident...

 

[Linz]

The stewards weren't letting people go down to the car park past the away end (unless you were wearing a suit... one rule for them, one for us mere mortals). "Go to the barrier, there's a gap and they'll let you through".

Got to the barrier. Police: " No, you'll have to wait ".

So we waited 20 minutes and then met up with the Barnsley fans anyway. Public aggravation in the name of public safety.

We witnessed one fight yesterday which was basically two very inebriated people hugging until one fell over and the bouncers wading in like they were about to liberate a small oppressed nation.

 

[Linz]

The Football Supporters' Federation have asked that people email [email protected] with their experiences yesterday and they'll collate them and ask for a response from the Police.

Please take the time over the next couple of days to do this if you were affected as things will only change if people speak up.

 

[YES Blade]

Saw one of those smoke bombs hit one of our fans just after we scored the first goal. Luckily no one was hurt, but the club really need to do something about the morons who bring these to the ground. Recently it seems to be every match that one gets set off.

 

[Foxy]

Saw one of those smoke bombs hit one of our fans just after we scored the first goal. Luckily no one was hurt, but the club really need to do something about the morons who bring these to the ground. Recently it seems to be every match that one gets set off.

Problem being, they are small enough that if someone really wants to get them in, they will.

That said, there were very few searches from what I saw yesterday.

 

[Northyorksblade]

The barrier outside the ground was a joke. But I have to say the fat copper handled it well, polite and explaining things reasonably. The woman copper on the other hand, possibly feeling intimidated, was telling people not to raise their voices and was quite aggressive. When you can see through the side of the barrier there's no one within two hundred yards the other side, it's no wonder voices were raised. Good thing we didn't lose, at least everyone was in a good mood.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Problem being, they are small enough that if someone really wants to get them in, they will.

That said, there were very few searches from what I saw yesterday.

I thought they said beforehand that people would be searched for flares and anyone found with one would be banned. Time something was done about this. Apart from injuring our own fans, the club is likely to get fined.

 

[MBoreman]

I know this is a flawed statement, but if smoke bombs werent banned they wouldn't be thrown nearly as much.

 

[Deleted member 1486]

I think some were handed 5 year bans for taking flares into the ground recently? Although I guess if you're dumb enough to go throwing flares around in a crowded space the threat of a 5 year ban isn't going to put you off.

 

[Foxy]

I thought they said beforehand that people would be searched for flares and anyone found with one would be banned. Time something was done about this. Apart from injuring our own fans, the club is likely to get fined.

They did, and I was expecting plenty of searches on the way in, but as we stood outside the turnstiles for quite a while and then went in, I saw a single "search" in action.

 

[SwissBlade]

They did, and I was expecting plenty of searches on the way in, but as we stood outside the turnstiles for quite a while and then went in, I saw a single "search" in action.

Why would they need to search fans? I mean they had barriers to protect Barnsley fans from the evil blades...

I think the police only see it as crowd trouble when incidents happen between opposing fans

 

[Deleted member 1486]

They did, and I was expecting plenty of searches on the way in, but as we stood outside the turnstiles for quite a while and then went in, I saw a single "search" in action.

They seemed to be checking bags, pretty much standard search and I think the same as with all away fans at Bramall Lane?

 

[Foxy]

They seemed to be checking bags, pretty much standard search and I think the same as with all away fans at Bramall Lane?

A standard search on an away end normally results in me being patted down or at least being surprised to not be, whilst others in the vicinity are.

When we were around, everyone just wandered straight through as 7 or 8 stewards stood watching.

It's not their fault in the slightest, but with the warnings before hand and the global leaders summit numbers of policing, I certainly didn't expect to walk straight in.

 

[Hugh Nitedite]

Barricaded in, barricaded out ,shunted around like sheep between rows of riot police and snarling dogs, herded into what looked like a darkened gymnasium at the metrodome to try and find a pint only to find a 150 strong queue for beer, gave up after 20mins , managed to get past the beady looks of the police to go upstairs to Rigby`s, rejoin civilisation and get a pint, albeit in a plastic container, no queue, no bother, like chalk and cheese compared to downstairs which incidentally is what the expensive burger tasted like at the ground ( why is football catering so bad), crushed in the toilets at half time, eyeballed by stewards the whole game, videoed by yet more police, at least we took the car and avoided the train station debacle and thankfully we won otherwise the day would have been an horrendous experience. Herded around like cattle and treated like children for the sake of a couple hundred idiots out of a crowd of 16000 plus, there has to be a better way.

 

[sitwell]

Eventually they will be self policed, I know if we had seen who threw yesterday's they would have got battered.

 

[sitwell]

Barricaded in, barricaded out ,shunted around like sheep between rows of riot police and snarling dogs, herded into what looked like a darkened gymnasium at the metrodome to try and find a pint only to find a 150 strong queue for beer, gave up after 20mins , managed to get past the beady looks of the police to go upstairs to Rigby`s, rejoin civilisation and get a pint, albeit in a plastic container, no queue, no bother, like chalk and cheese compared to downstairs which incidentally is what the expensive burger tasted like at the ground ( why is football catering so bad), crushed in the toilets at half time, eyeballed by stewards the whole game, videoed by yet more police, at least we took the car and avoided the train station debacle and thankfully we won otherwise the day would have been an horrendous experience. Herded around like cattle and treated like children for the sake of a couple hundred idiots out of a crowd of 16000 plus, there has to be a better way.

We got a cup of tea an hour before kick off and they had run out of sugar, just saying

 

[Zinedine]

A couple of thousand fans at the train station yesterday. Plod were locking the doors to the train station so if (when) there was pushing people didn't get pushed onto the platform. To make matters worse, about 100 coppers were stood in a line funneling people in from the road into the narrow doorway.

First couple of trains left without incident, there seemed to be a hold up for the third. Everyone was getting a bit irate, being there for an hour with little to no movement. I think those at the back thought those of us at the front were being held up by a line of police and started pushing. Those right at the front went face first into the glass doors, there were a few kids around me (including mine) and thankfully the fans around us around started pushing back to create some room for them and helped them over to the wall where there was less pressure, and eventually behind a door (for which I am very grateful).

This had the potential to turn nasty. I think the only reason no punches were thrown is because those crushed knew it wasn't people directly behind responsible.

Still, it was dangerous, and could have easily gone very wrong (the police knew this, because there were pulling the kids aside once inside the station and asking them if they were okay and needed a drink). I'm not blaming those who didn't open the doors (who probably prevented a worse situation from occurring), but the plod who were in a line and filtering fans into the station should have broke up/backed off and allowed the crowd some room, especially as many people were looking to leave the queue anyway!

And those pushing need to grow up (I saw one fat twat heaving into the crowd in front of him as hard as he could). We already know how badly a situation like this could end! Did you even save 1 second off your journey home? Just stupidity!

Appalling from the Police, one younger lady with a few friends came out of the crowd in tears and vented her frustration at a nearby line of police, she was met with laughter, laughter! I believe the officer who laughed was with the Durham contingency.

Once you were in the pen there was no leaving, we wanted to leave and jump in a taxi or on a bus but a Sergeant (4229 or 4992, number similar to that) was having none of it and said to a group of lads near us "there is a train in 5 minutes and another in 15 minutes, you'll be on one of those trains". Well, an hour after he informed that group of our apparent moving into the station and onto a train, they were still there and so were we.

What legislation allows for the police to prevent my moving through their lines? I had cause zero issues and wanted to get out of the sun but could not move away from the area directly outside the station. How is that legal and how is that moral?

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Herded around like cattle and treated like children

And children treated like cattle. I'm not an idiot (in the public disorder sense at least), but when we get treated like this (I have previously posted my experiences of West Midlands Police), it just sets you on edge at the time and travelling to matches in future. It's a vicious circle. What impression of the police does HB Jnr have, given his only experience (thankfully) is how we are treated, eye-balled, videoed when walking to a ground eating a burger, watching a football match, etc.