Police at Reading Station last night....

[Dai Brainbocs]

Heck of a coincidence that this happens the same week as the police nationwide launched a campaign to get football clubs to pay for policing away from the immediate area of grounds. Granted supporters returning from an away game isn't quite the same thing, but it helps soften the public up to the idea that riot squads at railway stations are a vital component of having a football club in your town.

Down in the Conference Stockport's chairman has complained about the club being used as a cash cow by Greater Manchester Police and GMP using their games as training exercises for bigger grounds but charging the club for the privilege. At least one game there the police bill far exceeded the gate money from visiting supporters and at others it swallowed most of it.

[Snowball]

Heck of a coincidence that this happens the same week as the police nationwide launched a campaign to get football clubs to pay for policing away from the immediate area of grounds. Granted supporters returning from an away game isn't quite the same thing, but it helps soften the public up to the idea that riot squads at railway stations are a vital component of having a football club in your town.

Down in the Conference Stockport's chairman has complained about the club being used as a cash cow by Greater Manchester Police and GMP using their games as training exercises for bigger grounds but charging the club for the privilege. At least one game there the police bill far exceeded the gate money from visiting supporters and at others it swallowed most of it.

Exactly. They will use THEIR over-zealous actions to "show" how they "had to" turn out etc.

[Simon's Church]

fukkin tories...

[SydenhamRoyal]

Watching the game in the Nags > Going to the game

NO NO NO NO NO It was awesome last night at St Marys

[Friday's Legacy]

Watching the game in the Nags > Going to the game

NO NO NO NO NO It was awesome last night at St Marys

Agreed. Nothing tops away days like Saints, West Ham or promotion at Leicester.

[jonboy29red]

this is the same tvp that wanted to close half of y26 if we dont go up this season

[FiNeRaIn]

might be related to the razor incident?

[loyalroyal4life]

this is the same tvp that wanted to close half of y26 if we dont go up this season

wait until next season am sure they will do so for most of the prem games, anything to make their jobs easier

[STAR Liaison]

I got a text from a Board member early this morning who was involved and warnign me that he was sending a complaint and so i have already emailed the Police Liaison Officer to start a dialogue on this matter.

I know Jon is after information for the FSF to take this further but I would anyone involved would also copy it to STAR to pursue it locally while the FSF take it on at a national level. Our contact is info@star-reading.org

[Avon Royal]

Watching the game in the Nags > Going to the game

NO NO NO NO NO It was awesome last night at St Marys

Agreed. Nothing tops away days like Saints, West Ham or promotion at Leicester.

If only they'd told him the f*cking scores, the bastards.

[CayeneMatt]

I have a contact reasonably high up in TVP. I'll pass on news of this dissatisfaction. She's reasonably level headed so I expect a sympathetic response.

[Arch]

I have a contact reasonably high up in TVP. I'll pass on news of this dissatisfaction. She's reasonably level headed so I expect a sympathetic response.

Snitch!

[Big Foot]

Considering this is the same police force who deemed it necessary to send a dozen police officers into a town centre pub to eject 20 Reading fans who had the audacity to chant 'we are top of the league' after the Leeds game*; I'm really not THAT surprised by their total over reaction last night.

Was told that by one of the police last night that there had been "incidents "in Southampton and those who were responsible for policing the town centre didn't want 'drunken Reading fans in town sparking similar incidents'. Considering our train arrived nearly late enough for most places to have reached last entry and most on the train hadn't had a beer for a fair few hours thanks to Hampshire police, I'm not so sure that story washes all that well with me.

Considering there'd been 'incidents' in Southampton (of which I saw none and had been in town all day), you'd have thought all those Reading fans would have been the provacative ones...the police seemed more 'up for a fight' than us! VERY heavy handed, particularly with an elderly couple which caused (understandably IMO) uproar and lead to confrontation with the people they're there to serve.

Overall very disappointing - and I expect next Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace won't be much better considering there was an incident between the police and Palace fans last season mixed with a large Palace away following and the potential for us to win promotion that day.




* on a Bank Holiday as you'll all recall - kerching!

[Pseud O'Nym]

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

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.
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.

Have to say I'm shocked that Dirk would trivialise the miners' struggle for their jobs and communities in this way.

[AthleticoSpizz]

agree Pseud

He has history for "over egging" and hysterically over dramatising all civil liberty football derived things..... in his official role.

In the absense of the £iddling Arthur Scargill, policemen being driven 200 miles to stoke the fires and concrete slabs being dropped onto taxi drivers taking "scabs" to work (killing them) , I would agree its a very poor comparison.

[St Pauli]

agree Pseud

He has history for "over egging" and hysterically over dramatising all civil liberty football derived things..... in his official role.

In the absense of the £iddling Arthur Scargill, policemen being driven 200 miles to stoke the fires and concrete slabs being dropped onto taxi drivers taking "scabs" to work (killing them) , I would agree its a very poor comparison.

You forgot scabs killing pickets with bricks.

[AthleticoSpizz]

..and that as well

[St Pauli]

..and that as well

'ppreciated.

[AthleticoSpizz]

tweeks tousled moustache and nods cloth capped head in acknowledgement

[M-U-R-T-Y]

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

Now now, are you comparing the TVP to the lolocaust now?
I'll have you know I have 30 jewish girlfriends and this offends me deeply, I am morally outraged etc.

Let it go.