Barnsley v Sheffield United - Policing: Request for Information

[William Henry Foulkes]

Contact [email protected] at the Football Supporters Federation
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For info I emailed about the policing at the game. We saw the situation at the station and so left it for a couple of hours and went back into the town centre. We didn't have anything to say about that which was a significant part of the day for a lot of people.

Here's the email response, with a request for further evidence. If nothing else this sets up a paper trail and if anything does go wrong in future and we have spoken out and they can't say they didn't know,

There will be accountability procedures which might not always work in everyone's best interests, but they do mean that our voices might be heard. Anyway...

Many thanks for getting in touch. I'll be contacting SYP with all the reports from supporters I've received together with a covering letter from me.

I'll do this towards the end of the week giving other fans an opportunity to contact me.

[Here comes the important bit, which I've subtly emphasised]

If you know anybody else who attended the game and also had concerns about the policing, perhaps you could encourage them to get in touch as well. The more people who do so, the stronger case I'll be able to present.

Of course I'll share any reply I receive with you and your fellow supporters.

[I asked if it would be possible to get costs of the policing numbers]

With regard to getting figures, it is possible to submit a freedom of information act request but it's doubtful they will share the actual numbers for 'operational/security' reasons.

So there it is. If we want things to improve in even a small way then this is one possible way of going about it.

 

[SwissBlade]

Nice work, though quite what the cost of policing has to do with it is beyond me

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

The police numbers were ridiculously excessive. If you go to the press or public with that there is some chance of a, "So what?" reaction.

If, otoh, you point out that they (the public) had to pay £200 000*, say, out of a shrinking budget for Geordie Plod to stand around having a chat with their mates, which is what I saw and heard then that might elicit a response. That's £200 000* that won't be spent elsewhere, for instance investigating burglaries in your area.

The policing operation was very badly misconceived and wildly expensive. If we voice our opinions that might improve next time.

*No idea if this anywhere near the actual figure.