Norfolk police say fans can expect “friendly and fair policing” at Saturday’s Championship play-off derby semi-final second leg against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Overseeing the operation is Chief Superintendent Nick Davison, who said: "Clearly the stakes are high, but this is a great local derby event for the Championship play-offs and we can no doubt expect passionate and healthy rivalry between two family friendly clubs and supporters.

"The police operation has been developed to ensure everyone has a great day out and the vast majority of fans will enjoy the event in the right spirit.

“Our focus will be on those whose behaviour spoils everyone else’s enjoyment and to manage areas where we have seen issues before at other matches as fans travel to and from the stadium.

"By the end of this match we will know who is going to Wembley and continues in their quest for promotion to the Premier League. As the Police Commander, I expect elation and dismay in equal measures. Please don’t let these emotions spill over.”

As was the case with the game in March, Town supporters arriving by train and coach will be signposted to the ground via Lower Clarence Road, Clarence Road and Carrow Road.

For safety reasons, it is possible that short closures may be put in place on these roads prior to the match, while regular road closures will also be in place around Carrow Road both before and after the game. For more details visit Norfolk police’s website, while information and road closure advice on the day, follow @NorfolkPolice on Twitter.

There will be no designated pub for travelling Town fans with all licensees declaring their establishments home only. However, the ground itself and its bars are open from 10.45am. Supporters without tickets are urged not to travel.

Photo: Action Images

TR11BLU added 11:15 - May 12 Well I will not be travelling by train after my experience at the March game. Heavy handed idiotic treatment by Norfolk Constabulary at the station on way back. Pity they didnt deter the dopey budgies who were congrgated at the barriers hurling abuse. Either that or let them through so we could sort it out face to face...
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alfromcol added 11:20 - May 12 TR11BLU Sticks and stones....... come to mind! Get over it.
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Bowls1e added 11:23 - May 12 They copy & paste the same statement every time.. Just change the superintendents name. Just for once can't they write that anyone who takes the p**s will get a right shoeing! People might bother to read it then.
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grumpyoldman added 11:26 - May 12 The police at the station were British Transport Police from London who are well know for heavy handed treatment, as at the Ipswich leg both Norfolk & Suffolk police will be on duty, as Norwich fans will be upset by the result the police will be primed to deal with it
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Benters added 11:38 - May 12 To be honest the BTP we travelled with on the train were ok and they were ok back at the Station after the game. The problem was the Norfolk Police they were pretty rude and pumped up ready for a ruck. Its all well and good all arriving back at the station at the same,but to force us all through those bloody metal poles down the footpath was stupid.. I never saw one Norwich fan at the station?

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Michael11 added 11:43 - May 12 Maybe they should be saying all this to their fellow policemen. They were absolute idiots in March. They all thought they were above the law and treated us like animals!
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Superfrans added 11:45 - May 12 Just checking - so does this mean there will be bars open in the ground, in the away section?
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linhdi added 12:04 - May 12 Yes, there will be bars open in the away end.
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pennblue added 12:04 - May 12 This home fan only rule on pubs is a nonsense. Hide your colours FFS and go and drink where you want to.
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radiogaga added 12:10 - May 12 alfromcol - were you there? It took some believing. I've not seen anything like it - lost fans who passed the corden (which was so wide, nobody thought it was a coren) literally getting grabbed by the back of the shirt at neck height, being shouted at asking where they think they're going, and being thrown towards the carriage, addressing fans as "OI YOU". Disgraceful, emotions were already running high as a group of Norwich fans had apparently ran towards town fans at the station with heavy objects in hand. I hope that isn't their idea of "friendly and fair" on Saturday. Suffolk Police showed us how it should be done at the weekend.

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PJH added 13:22 - May 12 I think it would be a major mistake to allow both sets of supporters to mix immediately after the game(as in March) whatever the result but even more so if we win. Would hope that we are kept in for a while-hopefully celebrating victory.
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BackTheBlues added 13:58 - May 12 Just as a heads up to all... I was at the away game earlier this year, spent the night before in Norwich so was obviously there a lot longer than people on the day - every single bar/pub/restaurant checked ID's of people entering - anybody not living in Norfolk was not allowed in for a drink! Absolute disgrace to have no designated away pub and more so to not be allowed in if you pretended not to be involved with the footie! So please think twice anyone thinking of going up early! Sod'em - we'll drink in the away end altogether!

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grumpyoldman added 14:03 - May 12 radiogaga they were not just Suffolk police on Saturday, because of the close collaboration between the forces Suffolk & Norfolk both are working both matches only those in charge come from their respective counties
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BasingstokeBranch added 14:49 - May 12 There are many, many pubs in Norwich. I can't believe each one will be checking ID for a Norfolk address. My ID says Hampshire, what does that proove in terms of who I support ?
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Green_Army added 14:51 - May 12 Is there a designated train for the journey there and back?
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ArnieM added 15:20 - May 12 Norfolk police fair policing of Town fans??? That'd be a first.
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upthetown89 added 15:36 - May 12 In March I was stood on the back row and I saw a copper celebrate when Scum scored their 1st goal disgraceful!!
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EatonBlue added 16:29 - May 12 Delete 'friendly and fair' and insert ' heavy-handed and inflexible'
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Seasider added 17:00 - May 12 IN my younger days went all over the country often to First Division which later became Premiership grounds including several trips to Carrow Rd.. Although still a passionate supporter and regular at Portman Rd I rarely now go away. I must say that as a law abiding guy from Essex,THE ONLY PLACE I HAVE EXPERIENCED AGGRESSIVE POLICING PERSONALLY WAS AT NORWICH. From reading the above nothing has changed,and after so many years of abuse from the Norfolk Constabulary I would not expect anything different this time,especially if we beat them.

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alfromcol added 17:21 - May 12 Hi radiogaga Yes I was at the game and saw the goings on after the game near the steps leading to the station. The police did a good job in driving the threatening "locals" back up the road. I think things would have been much worse if the police hadn't been there. Like everything else in life everyone has different views and law and order is no different.
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ArnieM added 17:52 - May 12 Was that when the female copper got her baton out and faced the Town fans filing quietly into the station and shouted repeatedly at us " get back...get flucking back" whilst 6 scum fans attempted to attack us with various items of "weaponry? " absolute F ckin l disgrace
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ArnieM added 17:52 - May 12 Was that when the female copper got her baton out and faced the Town fans filing quietly into the station and shouted repeatedly at us " get back...get flucking back" whilst 6 scum fans attempted to attack us with various items of "weaponry? " absolute F ckin l disgrace
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ArnieM added 17:54 - May 12 Sorry posted from phone. Dbl post due to delay
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blueboy1981 added 18:45 - May 12 Alfromcol......... agree with your posts. Unfortunately both Clubs will have a tiny minority of people who will have no time at all for the Police until they need them themselves, then of course, it will be a totally different scenario. Equally so, they will not be happy unless they can go to the game, misbehave, instigate some agro' of some kind, and conveniently expect to get away with it. This is a game of FOOTBALL only - and should be enjoyed as such - some will leave the ground disappointed, some euphoric, at the result. There should be no need for anyone with a young family, or whatever, to worry about after all. Let's go and show that OUR Club is capable of doing just that. BEHAVE PLEASE - and let everyone return home safe.

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PJH added 19:08 - May 12 blueboy-I am certainly going there to behave and certainly intend to return home safe but with what is at stake the off field "tension" that is always there in our games against them will be magnified. I am convinced that had we won the league game there in March, the decision to allow fans to mix after the game would have been shown to be a mistake. If we win this one and the post match mixing of rival fans is allowed,it could turn out to be horrendous. On a personal level,I hope(obviously) for an Ipswich win and hope that the police have the sense to keep us in the ground until our "hosts" have dispersed to drown their sorrows(or themselves!). I am not scare mongering, this is what I believe.

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