Just as well, really:
More than £1,000 of damage was caused when Jacqui Higginbottom's wing mirrors were smashed and a key was used to carve a mark along her car following the Crystal Palace match in December.
The mother-of-five is one of a number of people living in Sangley Road, which is opposite Selhurst Park, whose property has been damaged since police adopted new tactics this season to manage fans leaving the stadium.Hmmm, if police are shepherding them down this lady's road, are they not expected to watch what they are doing?
When Miss Higginbottom, who has an autistic daughter, asked an officer what she should do to ensure her property and family are safe on Saturday, she claims an officer told her to go out for the day.Oh, fantastic! So the damage will be a nice surprise for her when she gets home?
"I've lived here for six years and never had any problems until they started pushing all the away fans down our road. Why should the people who live here have to flee our homes because of a football match?"That's a damned good question. Is it just you?
Other people living in the street saw their vehicles and property damaged as 3,000 away fans were escorted to the railway station.So, what's the police response to this criminal damage going on right under their very noses?
Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts defended the operation and described their actions as "mindless violence".
He said: "I'm convinced had we not taken the measures we did by keeping the fans separate as they departed the ground then we would be talking about people being injured as well as property being damaged."And people damaged - even rival football hooligans, who nobody should really give a damn about - will provoke all sorts of fuss and scrutiny of police tactics and a potentially hazardous situation for future promotion prospects.
Whereas property damage? *shrug*
7 comments:
Well, there'll be no police at matches soon! Costs, priorities, blah, blah, blah
I'm surprised that the "Community Liaison" that all forces ... sorry, services trumpet about hadn't got this covered? If they really wanted to they could have got everyone on the street to move their vehicles and guarantee no parking tickets - for the duration of the match - but maybe then it would have been house windows damaged instead of cars.
I'm struggling to see what having an "autistic daughter" really has to do with it though?
Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts defended the operation and described their actions as "mindless violence".
Oh! Not sure if that was just badly phrased or an accurate assessment of most police operations these days?
Didn't the cops even send her a bouquet of flowers? I thought that was their latest 'weapon' against crime.
Sorry all our football pages are currently taken up with some new geezer's past opinions - which, had they been of the communist flavour, no one would have batted an eyelid over...
"Well, there'll be no police at matches soon!"
Unless the clubs pay..
"I'm struggling to see what having an "autistic daughter" really has to do with it though?"
Extra Victim Points.
"Oh! Not sure if that was just badly phrased or an accurate assessment of most police operations these days?"
Heh!
"Didn't the cops even send her a bouquet of flowers? I thought that was their latest 'weapon' against crime."
I think that'd be considered as adding insult to injury...
Julia,I know this area and ground very well as i've policed Palace numerous times.
There are several points I will make before getting shouted down.
Firstly I have sympathy with this lady,but the footy ground has been there much longer than she has.When she bought her house did she wonder what that big stadium was at the end of her road? Not condoning the damage in the slightest though.
Secondly-"damage under their very noses" is a silly expression.Do you think police can individually watch 3000 people? Or should they have all been arrested and sweated until one of them confessed?We know how crowd dynamics work,they wouldn't cause this damage on their own.
Thirdly a few police with dogs and horses would shepherd them to the train station from behind-i've done it numerous times-and you can't see what they are all doing.It's impossible.
I've found that residents often go out during the matches-it's only for two hours after all-as their cars get trapped.The same with Notting Hill carnival and Wimbledon tennis,the locals plan their holidays around the event,it's sensible advice.
Jaded.
Post a Comment