Police at Reading Station last night....

[Royal Lady]

I think this needs highlighting here for all supporters to see - in case you miss it...

For many Reading supporters returning from watching the team’s stunning win over Southampton to go top of the Championship , the evening was marred by what was waiting for them at Reading Station.

Because Thames Valley Police were there in massive force, in scenes more reminiscent of policing the miner’s strike in the 80s than policing of football fans returning to their home station after a great night out. Estimates of numbers vary, but everyone who was there agrees that the show of force was totally disproportionate to the level of threat. We’re talking about approximately 40 police officers, in riot gear, deployed with numerous dogs and acting extremely aggressively. This was demonstrably over the top. We are talking here about Reading supporters, after all –Reading supporters who had a grand total of 5 supporters arrested at all away matches in the whole of the 2010/11 season (according to official Home Office statistics ); and the same Reading supporters who are praised for their behaviour by police forces and stadium managers across the country – for instance the Police Commander at Anfield who came onto STAR’s coaches to thanks Reading supporters for their behaviour, saying that they were the best-behaved set of supporters to visit the stadium.


But it seems that to the police force in their own town, when these same supporters return from an away match they are deemed to be such a threat that a disproportionate and heavy-handed response like yesterday’s is deemed appropriate. It is even more ludicrous when you consider that this was Reading supporters returning to Reading Station – so there would be no potential flashpoint with away supporters. The contrast with the good-natured, low-key policing of this same set of supporters by officers from Hampshire Police in Southampton and British Transport Police before reaching Reading is so stark as to be embarrassing.


But read on, because Police behaviour gets even more outrageous ……

Because supporters are reporting that around 20-30 supporters were served with notices under Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act, 2006 (VCRA). These are essentially orders issued to individuals to remove themselves from a specified area for up 48 hours – intended to prevent “alcohol-related disorder”. It’s clear that Thames Valley Police served these notices onto around 20-30 supporters as they detrained, en-masse, in Reading, and tried to serve them on many others – others who pointed out that TVP were attempting to force them to remove themselves from a locality where they actually lived.

There is history of Police Forces using Section 27 orders against groups of football supporters – and this is a purpose for which they certainly were not intended to be used by the law-makers and which has been ruled illegal. A judicial review in 2009, which was carried out as a result of the work of the Football Supporters Federation and civil-rights organisation Liberty ruled what was suspected all along – Section 27 orders can only be applied to specific individuals (not large groups), and Police serving the order need to have good reason and evidence to support their assertion that anyone is “likely to cause alcohol-related crime or disorder.” Simply being in high-spirits or having had a drink is certainly not sufficient grounds, and the way these orders were applied to these supporters seem clearly to be nothing more than heavy-handed bullying– but also illegal heavy-handed bullying.

Just why should anyone be banned from Reading Town centre after the match – just because they’ve been to a great football match and are understandably in high spirits? Or is it because they’re a football supporter, and, in the eyes of many police forces, first-and foremost a hooligan? In the UK we have the principle of ”policing by consent” – as citizens, we agree to be policed and to give the police extra powers to enable them to do so. But a vital part of this “policing by consent” equation is that the police do not misuse those extra powers. What happened today at Reading station was a blatantly clear example of Thames Valley Police misusing their powers against a group of citizens who were singled out for the simple reason that their chosen leisure activity happens to be following their local football team.

As a result of the FSF’s activities, Greater Manchester Police apologised to and compensated a group of Stoke City supporters who were illegally served section 27 orders in Manchester, and South Yorkshire Police has also agreed to compensate Plymouth Argyle fans unjustly served section 27 orders when they played Doncaster Rovers in December, 2008.

All the indications I have seen so far make it clear to me that what Thames Valley Police did today in handing out section 27s en masse was illegal, and I’m sure the FSF will be happy to hear from any affected supporters. The FSF can provide specialist legal advice and assistance, free of charge, and can assist supporters in making the appropriate complaints to the Police to make sure that such policing will be a thing of the past. They’d also love to hear from any Reading supporters who were at Reading Station and were affected by this police operation. To contact the FSF, email info@fsf.org.uk or jon.keen@fsf.org.uk or check out the FSF’s “ “Watching football is not a crime” ” campaign page.


So, in summary, how infuriating is that what ought to be such a superb night is spoilt for so many Reading supporters by ridiculously heavy-handed policing tactics that are not only completely unnecessary but also illegal? As I titled this piece : “Police intelligence – now there’s an oxymoron” … because tonight Thames Valley Police used no intelligence or knowledge of Reading supporters whatsoever. Whoever within TVP was responsible for these tactics should hang their head in shame – but of course they won’t. They’ll just come up with some fatuous weasel-words to try to justify them., as usual

Be interesting to see if we're all treated the same if we dare to go into Reading after or IF we go up. Terrible decision by the police.

[M Brook]

Where is that from?

[Royal Lady]

"Introducing the Tilehurst End" - it's been put in there with just a link and I thought it should be highlighted.

[TFF]

Dirk posted it on The Tilehurst End.

[Terminal Boardom]

This should be in the Scrote. Disgraceful behaviour but nothing new as far as TVP are concerned.

[Barry the bird boggler]

One hopes both STAR and RFC (as well as the local media) will demand answers from TVP as to their reasoning behind this.

[Snowball]

Thanks for posting this.

Having been on the end of Police Provocation, I totally sympathise.

Shameful

[St Pauli]

Walked straight into this off the replacement bus. Huge line of police, dogs, and vans parked as barriers. Saw some guys being given notice they couldn't go into town, luckily one of us was 11 so TVP didn't see us as trouble. As someone who has been in a fair few public order situations (including ones in Reading) it was some of the most over the top policing I've ever seen, and ludicrous given the fact that it was Reading fans returning to Reading that were the supposed threat.

[Rex]

Is this prep for the remainder of the home games. Terrible. High spirits do not equate to trouble or flashpoints.

[Avon Royal]

I'm pretty sure that "Special" Constable Spacey will be here soon to serve this thread a Section 27 order to remove itself from the locality of the Team Board.

[Royal Lady]

LOLz - I think it should stay here so that fans who were there can see that they should contact FSF or whatever - if I put it in AE it will get lost/abused.

[loyalroyal4life]

so glad this has been brought to light, i could not believe the amount of police that were present at reading station it really seemed like there was a violent incident or bomb scare that had JUST happened. When it was evident it was for RFC supporters returning back from an AWAY game the confusion started to grow.

TVP always do baffle me with how they justify the numbers they deploy but last night was a complete farce. There was more police back home then at the actual game FFS

[Snowball]

Gives them another excuse to charge more for policing games

[PieEater]

Overtime kerching!

[Wimb]

Cheers RL

Original posting is here

http://thetilehurstend.co.uk/2012/04/14 ... -oxymoron/

[ayjaydee]

A bunch of us had been celebrating mates birthday up in town and watching the game in the Sports Cafe. We must have got back just after midnight and not being a regular in town on a Friday I just assumed the police presence was normal for a Friday night beefed up a bit around the station.

I didn't really see any over the top behaviour by plod though.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Watching the game in the Nags > Going to the game

[Tails]

What was it that the Head of Portsmouth stewarding, WHU stewarding etc said about the Reading support?


TVP, you Utter kunters

[Tails]

In keeping with tradition, can we change this to 'Report TVP' please.






https://secureforms.ipcc.gov.uk/Pages/f ... laint.aspx

[Focher]

i was virtually first off the train, and the police were basically a massive bunch of nazis.

Thats the best i can do.