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Police to Launch Derby Inquiry
Police to Launch Derby Inquiry
Wednesday, 4th May 2011 11:28

Suffolk Constabulary are launching an internal inquiry into their handling of the recent Town-Norwich derby after the Canaries made an official complaint.

A spokesperson said: “The force has received an official complaint from Norwich City Football Club as well as correspondence from a handful of supporters.

“We will be examining the planning that went into the policing operation as well as focusing on the way in which travelling supporters were dealt with prior to the kick-off.

“We hope to conclude our report before the end of May, but will be meeting with club officials in the next seven days in order to agree the parameters of the inquiry.”

Norwich City chief executive David McNally stated his intention to make a complaint in a tweet a day after the match: “Really disappointed with the police treatment of our fans on Thursday night. We will be lodging an official complaint."

Around 100 Norwich fans were reported to have still been outside the ground when the match kicked off after an apparent stand-off between the two sets of fans in Portman Road.

Shortly after the game, Inspector Matthew Rose said Suffolk Constabulary were pleased with the way the derby had gone: “From my point of view the operation has been an absolute success.”

On the day of the match, police made 19 arrests and there were 13 ejections.


Photo: Action Images



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JimmyJazz added 11:45 - May 4
All an investigation will conclude is that derby games should return to mid day on a Sunday
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boltzak added 11:51 - May 4
Maybe if they tried to get in the ground instead of trying to fight they would not have missed the start of the game! So stop moaning!
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Alan_Handsome added 11:53 - May 4
The police had no idea what to do and their organisational skills were woeful...God only knows what would happen if some of these 'policemen' suddenly had to deal with something like the student riots in London - i mean the worst thing i saw at teh derby game was people hurling segments of tangerine at each other during the "standoff" (which by the way is a hilrious over-reaction to what was two sets of fans just jeering each other ha ha ha)....

Lot of fuss over nothing!
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Paulc added 11:58 - May 4
The inquiry should be: Did the police mistreat the Norwich fans?

The conclusion should be: Not nearly enough

The recommendation shoud be: Next time use cattle prods on them (allthough this won't be for several years (unless a cup game) as we will be swapping places with the worst ever Premierhip side in history next May)
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IP3 added 12:01 - May 4
I was at that ' stand-off ' and the police done absolutely nothing, just kept walking back as the Ipswich fans moved towards the N*rwich.
I myself didn't get into the ground until 10 mins gone, was a good laugh though, stop moaning, why does everyone moan. At the end of the day it was only harmless banter as nothing actually happened! Typical East Anglian derby! But some say that's a good thing..
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naa added 12:17 - May 4
The main mistake the police made was when a small group of Norwich fans were being corralled down portman road. The police stopped Ipswich fans in the car park on portman road but they also stopped the Norwich fans.

For about 10 mins no-one moved because the police didn't know who to move first. Eventually they let the Ipswich fans go, which was a mistake because the Norwich fans were right next to the south stand turnstiles. The town fans stood and gave the norwich fans banter, which was pretty predictable. This then blocked the turnstiles for town fans and stopped Ipswich fans getting into the ground easily and obviously completely stopped the Norwich fans from getting in.

So, really poor policing.

They also herded town fans past cineworld at one point, yet there were hundreds of us behind the police line, so what was the point?

For something that supposedly took 6 months of planning it was really poor.

Mind you, I still think the town fans who'd rather stand in the street singing songs to some people they don't know rather than go in to watch the game of football that they supposedly care so much about are a bunch of idiots. But maybe that's just me.
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JonTheBass added 12:17 - May 4
One reason I don't much enjoy going to away games at Carrow Road is because of the way their police and stewards treat us. They're not exactly welcoming to us, why would they expect different when they come down here?
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BlueVelvet added 12:32 - May 4
Local derbies are overated and hyped up by clubs and generally the police go into 'must contain rioters' mode. It is a hard thing to say, but, because one team is much better than the other there will be no need to police a derby for at least a season
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naa added 12:34 - May 4
It's not about the police badly treating them. It's purely because they messed up at the time and were unable to get the Norwich fans into the ground for kick-off. That's poor. Imagine how annoyed you'd be if it was the same at Carrot Road.

If fans want to banter outside and not bother watching the game that's fine but if you don't you should be able to get into the ground if you want to, and they couldn't. It was entirely the police's fault.
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MAVERICK added 12:44 - May 4
Canaries chief executive David McNally stated his intention to make a complaint in a tweet (funny) He's not to chirpy then !
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SouperJim added 13:00 - May 4
Ah diddums. Storm in a teacup.
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simonsays added 13:14 - May 4
There should be no investigation. The police did a good job in difficult circumstances. The scum came here looking to cause trouble with their aggressive behaviour and abusive chanting towards our fans about our club and town. They should be investigated, not the police!
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poggie added 13:17 - May 4
I have been a season ticket holder for many years, and never thought i'd say this ... I am delighted there won't be a local derby match next season.

At around 7pm that night, I was stranded inside Frankie & Benny's where there were quite a few "fans" intent on trouble. I have no idea which team (if any) they supported, as they were not wearing either club's colours. The atmosphere was increasingly intimidating. Some of these "fans" were trying to force their way past the police into the car park to fight with rivals outside, and some were trying to push their way from outside into the pub. I feared a riot!

I have since been told that the police had it all under control, but it didn't feel like that at the time!

As a woman on her own (my friend had gone back to his car to get something), it was very frightening. At one point, an object hit the window just next to where i was standing. I do not think of myself in any way as a nervous person, but that night, I was literally terrified. Thankfully, I was eventually allowed to leave the pub by a rear exit.

The "supporters" concerned should be ashamed of themselves ... but I know they probably won't be!

If kick off had been at the usual 12pm on a sunday, this would not have happened, and i would not now be suffering from anxiety attacks every time i'm in a crowded place, or hear voices raised in anger!

I'm just glad that it wasnt the last home match of the season, or there's a real possibility I might not have been able to face going back to PR next season!
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broadside added 13:42 - May 4
To stage the match on the eve of a four day public holiday was a stupid decision from the start as everybody apart from the police and authorities seemed to recognise. As a result a lot of people were very drunk and many had been drinking since lunchtime. Even so the trouble amounted to a few missiles and minor scuffles. Think the police dodged a bullet really. With such poor organisation it could have been much worse. It's a pity we can't just go back to a 3pm Saturday kick off. Always seemed to pass off quietly
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nickforeveritfc added 16:52 - May 4
what are they complaining about there just as bad as! us! anyway were not playing them next year so i dont see what their going to get out of this!
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itfc1981 added 17:58 - May 4
yes our defending was criminal about time they looked into it
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HundonBlue added 19:43 - May 4
It's a good job i weren't in charge of the police that night....................lol
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DiamondGezzer added 07:18 - May 5
Ballons on sticks at ten paces. Jack Frost would have sorted it out ! Ho - hum !
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daniel9624 added 11:18 - May 5
What a load of garbage, have they never seen a north london,old firm, etc etc etc derby. It was just two sets of people each having a bit of banter, no one was hurt, and everyone got inside (eventually), job done!
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