The first line of the UK police caution. Something the police
themselves would do well to heed....
In a strongly worded statement following the Premier League clash, Chief Inspector Simon Nelson said the match had signalled a “return to the dark days of football”.
He said: “We are aware that a significant number of people attempted to enter the ground with pyrotechnics, knives and knuckledusters, which were found following efforts to gain access through fire exit doors in the south stand.”
Just one problem. It wasn't true.
But neither Brighton and Hove Albion or Crystal Palace have said that weapons were discovered.
Whoops! So, time to retract? No, no!
Crystal Palace fans have pushed for proof of weapons but none was provided, however Sussex Police maintained that weapons had been found and told a reporter that they were now evidence
Then yesterday Chief Inspector Simon Nelson was on Twitter telling a Crystal Palace fanzine that Brighton and Hove Albion had found the weapons.
Someone needs to taser this chap & wrestle the dangerous weapon - his Twitter account - from his hands!
But The Argus understands the club had not found any weapons and has not been party to any claims that they were found either inside or outside the ground.
Sussex Police claim information about the weapons was logged by an officer but the force has not made clear where the information came from.
Ah, the convenient 'anonymous officer who can't be traced', despite the police having all those systems for logging seizures & intelligence...
The police apology, issued last night, said: “The reference to weapons being found discarded at the stadium following the Brighton v Crystal Palace match on November 28 was based on information logged by our officers on the night and done so in good faith.
“Subsequently, it has been established that no such items were physically recovered at the stadium or in the city.
“We accept that this information was incorrect and the tweet published earlier today (December 7) by one of our officers was wrong.
“Sussex Police apologises to both clubs and their supporters.”
...through gritted teeth, I'll bet!
Last night the police said that they would not make any further comment.
Like most of their 'customers'!
Last night the police said that they would not make any further comment...
ReplyDeleteI love it! The plod going down the 'no comment' road.
Buffoon Chief Inspector makes a mistake and apologises. Seems fair enough.
ReplyDeleteI love football and volunteer often to police it. However a lot of my colleagues don't like doing it-especially the senior officers-and they are really down on the game.They attend with with a very negative attitude. 99% of matches pass off peacefully and 99% of fans are perfectly well-behaved. Despite what the papers write.
Jaded.
Say, an embarrassing screw up involving Brighton FC and Sussex Police.... say, you don't think it involves our hero do you?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.4liberty.org.uk/2017/11/03/tough-on-crime-tough-on-the-oh/
Perhaps they should stick to patrolling the internet for Class 'A' tweets and memes with an anti-halal bent.
ReplyDelete"I love it! The plod going down the 'no comment' road."
ReplyDeleteThere is a faint whiff of hypocrisy rising off this one, isn't there?
"They attend with with a very negative attitude. 99% of matches pass off peacefully and 99% of fans are perfectly well-behaved."
So what you are saying is, your colleagues are incapable of learning?
"...say, you don't think it involves our hero do you?
http://www.4liberty.org.uk/2017/11/03/tough-on-crime-tough-on-the-oh/"
Heh!