Police praised Town and Norwich fans following today’s play-off derby at Portman Road with only five arrests made before, during and after the 1-1 draw.

Ipswich policing commander, Superintendent Louisa Pepper, said: "I am very pleased to say that overall, the atmosphere at today’s match was lively but good-natured, with minimal need for police intervention.

"Extensive planning went into the policing operation, which was firm in places, with a significant presence of officers.

“This was necessary to ensure supporters enjoyed the game and to cause the minimum impact possible on other members of the public in the area.

“I am very pleased to say that the operation was carried out exactly as planned with supporters enjoying a fantastic atmosphere.

"A very small number of people behaved unacceptably and were dealt with accordingly. This behaviour is not tolerated and swift action was taken to lessen the impact on individuals and families attending the game.

"Road closures were in place for a large part of the day to ensure the safety of those attending before and after the match and I would like to thank motorists for their co-operation during this time."

A 28-year-old man from Norwich was arrested on suspicion of a football offence, throwing a missile onto the pitch, a 54-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested in connection with a Section 5 Public Order Act offence, a 17-year-old boy from Cromer was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, a 23-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and a 29-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested in connection with a Section 5 Public Order Act offence. They are all being questioned at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre.

Photo: Action Images

rambohambo added 20:42 - May 9 So what happened is the norwich fans gave it to the town fans . Town fans gave it back and arrested them. What normally happens. Police always seem to be wa****s to us
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Kentish_Tractor added 20:46 - May 9 I'm disappointed Louisa Pepper isn't a sergeant.
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northernblues added 20:49 - May 9 Rambohambo re your comments, town have only 6 fans on banning orders,
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WoodsFriesRice added 20:57 - May 9 The one-to-one copper-to-fan policy obviously worked. Overtime heaven for the boys and girls in blue.
3

TomGarneys added 21:07 - May 9 agree with WoodsFriedRice. Totally unacceptable overkill by the plod. Great day out for the boys in blue. Chaos for home fans. I wouldn't even want Pepper on my chips never mind being a sergeant! Absolute disgrace.
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NorthSTANDER_ITFC added 21:21 - May 9 I think the police done a brilliant job today. Every office I spoke to was very friendly and helpful. Yes they have to be firm in places but they weren't unfair, 3 Ipswich fans and 2 Norwich fans, hardly uneven! Forget the overtime, thank you for making it a safe and enjoyable day for everybody, especially the special constables that would have been out today in their free time, none of them should have to put up with your abuse.

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Newdawnagain added 21:31 - May 9 Well said North Stander and by the way two of my mates were working today and not a single officer was on over time. They are had their days off cancelled
6

BLUEBEAT added 21:38 - May 9 3/2 is uneven. 2.5/2.5 is even.
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LiquidPaz added 21:50 - May 9 Just got home from working at the game. Gutted wasn't there watching no overtime here cancelled day off to be taken elsewhere.
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Fixed_It added 21:51 - May 9 @ Bluebeat. Maybe one of those arrested had a half and half scarf? Or maybe not...
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Michael11 added 22:12 - May 9 We were treated like pigs at Norwich by Police in March. Let's see how they are next week!
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blueboy1981 added 22:36 - May 9 ......... decent enough praise from the Police - BUT why can't EVERYONE just behave and ENJOY ? Too simple, I guess.
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Lord_Mac added 22:49 - May 9 >3/2 is uneven. 2.5/2.5 is even.< 2 out of 2000 Norwich compared to 3 out of 27,000 Ipswich - hardly seems biased against Ipswich does it?
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daddyboob added 00:22 - May 10 Just as well we arrived early! Could have been organised a lot better for gates 1-9 Sir Alf fans. After 15 minutes of waiting around outside Rileys to be told we'd have to walk round the whole stadium to gain access, we managed to get to our seats 5 minutes before kick off! Best atmosphere from Sir Alf in the 10+ years we've had season tickets there as expected!
2

hancockingoal added 00:41 - May 10 Complete overkill! I had a text message to call home urgently about 30 mins before kick off. I couldn't get a signal in side the ground so a steward was very helpful and let me out assuring me I could get back in again. I tried to enter the empty car park in Portman Road where I thought I could get a signal and would be able to hear? I got one step inside when I was accosted by a policeman dressed like Rambo who in no certain terms informed me that if I made one more step forward I would not be watching the game! He did not care about my predicament and was in my view quite aggressive? It is my 62nd birthday today, there was no body in the car park to fight and at my age would I be able to? What a hero! Fortunately there was no emergency and I was able to watch the game, no thanks to super cop! Aren't the police supposed to be public servants?

3

bluesince84 added 02:27 - May 10 I was standing outside the south stand queuing for a burger and a police officer came over and said if i dont move on id get a section 5...my response, in hindsight ill-judged, was' ooooh no a section 5, not a section 5, i could handle a section 4...but a five....think of the children' That was my verbatim response. Luckily a norwich fan chucked a can of coke and he had to run to him and i left pronto. Mick the burger mans said ' how the hell do i make a living then if you turn away my queue???? police were idiotic today. Was like 80's Belfast, what the hell were we going to do? start throwing our carrots at each other???? morons

3

grumpyoldman added 09:51 - May 10 Bluesincs84, as a section 5 deals with abusive language or actions are you telling the whole truth or just telling a fairy tale to knock the police. For those who don't have a good word to say about the police, next time you are burgled, have a car accident, are assaulted or any other bad thing happens, don't call the police call a crackhead instead. Rant over
4

Warkys_Tash added 10:07 - May 10 Well there was at least 3 Norwich fans ejected out of the Lower Cobbold, so are the a Police saying at least one of them wasn't arrested? If so why not? They were ejected for causing dis-order. One woman (Norwich fan) was objecting to Chambers throwing down his water bottle, crazy! Police cordon to send Blue fans right turn only out of the South stand entrance, what was that all about? Norwich fans let out at the same time & mixed in, so can some explain the logic in blocking off the route & making Town fans walk all the way round? To$$ers.

1

Gilesy added 10:08 - May 10 I can't say I particularly appreciated having my arm grabbed and pulled away from the door at the railway station as I tried to walk through just like 20 people had before me. Perhaps the police are particularly wary of fat 40-something bald men with cords on.
2

blrmy added 10:14 - May 10 I sat near Norwich fans overlooking them, and the police and stewards did a good job in my opinion. Yeah, we had to walk at and around the ground after, 5 minutes walk. All the police we passed said good morning, laughed with our kid. No complaints, let's see how they do at Norwich.
2

crowblue89 added 11:09 - May 10 Police at the ground done their job....would like to meet the jobsworth who decided to give everyone who parked on the grass verge on birkfield drive a parking ticket!! With all the road closures and the sheer mass of expected people I decided to park there (along with a few hundred others) I have also parked there for previous games and had no problems, then at this game they decided to give Everyone a ticket.....absolute p*sstake, can only assume they tried to soften their wage bill for the day by ticketing everyone! I for one shall be arguing it!

1

thebeat added 11:20 - May 10 Home fans should never be put out to accomodate away fans. All the cordoning off is ridiculous. They should keep the scum fans in for 15 minutes while we disperse. Its not rocket science. And the game should have been played on Friday night as it was supposed to be.
1

blues1 added 11:34 - May 10 The beat. Agree with all ur post other than the last paragraph. This match would only have been scheduled for Fri night had they finished 4th and us 5th. But then would have been altered to sat.
0

hancockingoal added 12:11 - May 10 Grumpy old man, where have you been the last few years? It is no longer the polices job to investigate robbery, assault etc You post an opinion that might just offend someone then the who SPG will descend on you!
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soapy added 12:16 - May 10 I don't think the Police are the problem. They did a great job. It's the ignorant fans on both sides calling each other "scum" and creating an atmosphere of hatred. I'm all for banter and fun but it's stepped over the mark in previous seasons to an intolerant and negative atmosphere. I know football is a passionate and wonderful sport but without the Norwich fans at the match it would be a lifeless and less of an occasion. I would love there to be a neutral One at the football whereby fans (families) can sit with others from the visiting team who are intelligent and sensible enough to watch a game of football without feeling the need to swear and hit each other. COYB and less of the SCUM rubbish please

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