Hull City fans have been left furious at West Yorkshire Police's restrictions on this weekend's match at Huddersfield. Danny Longhorn puts fans' questions to WYP assistant chief constable Craig Guildford ...
FROM threats of legal action to protest marches, there is likely to be more action off the field than on it when Hull City face Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
West Yorkshire Police have left both sets of supporters furious with their travel restrictions for Tigers' fans wanting to travel to the Championship clash.
The restrictions were implemented when the kick-off was moved from 12.30pm to 5.20pm so it can be televised on Sky Sports.
The black and amber army have been told to use official club coaches or park at Hartshead Moor Services on the M62. Fans picking up tickets at the service station will then have to pay £2 to be driven to the John Smith's Stadium on shuttle buses – with Hull City believed to be subsidising between £300 and £400 per coach.
This is all despite the fact some Hull City fans live within a stone's throw of Huddersfield's stadium.
The police have also restricted the number of tickets for City fans to 1,700. The away stand's capacity is 4,000.
Fans have described the restrictions as "Draconian", with many vowing to boycott the match altogether in protest. So far only 400 tickets have been bought by Tigers fans.
Fans of both clubs have vowed to march through the city centre to show the strength of feeling against the restrictions, which have been heavily criticised by football supporters throughout the country.
The Mail put Tigers fans' questions to West Yorkshire Police's assistant chief constable Craig Guildford ...
Q: Why has the Huddersfield Town v Hull City match been given the top security category when there is no history of violence from City fans travelling to West Yorkshire? Last year, there were just 14 arrests – both home and away in all competitions – among Tigers' fans, none of which were for alcohol offences?
A: This game was categorised as a Category C at the start of the season, with an early kick-off time in place as a risk-reduction measure, which meant no additional restrictions were put in place. The increased risk came following the change in kick-off time for television purposes, which was requested by Huddersfield following pressure from the Football League and Sky TV. Experience shows us when late kick-offs occur, fans stay in city centres for longer, both before and after matches. This increases the risk of disorder before and after the game. We fully accept the majority of fans attending will be decent and law-abiding people who want to enjoy the day safely. Sadly, experience shows us it only takes a few small outbreaks of disorder fuelled by alcohol to spark wider problems, which would cause significant policing issues on already stretched Saturday nights.
Q: Have problems in the past with fans from other Hull sports clubs played a part in the decision (Hull FC fans pulled down the goalposts at Huddersfield's stadium in 2000)?
A: In considering the levels of risk, the Commander, and to a lesser degree the clubs, look at a number of different sources of information and intelligence. They use their experience and exercise their professional judgment. It is not a simple case of just looking at any incidents between the two clubs or other previous sporting events involving both communities in isolation. The fixture has not been singled out in any way and we treat each one on its own merits.
Q: What intelligence have you received to suggest there will be problems?
A: We would not discuss specific match intelligence for operational reasons but a full risk assessment is carried out on a match-by-match basis, and is always based on the information we receive for each individual game.
Q: Do you distinguish football fans from members of the public?
A: The generic answer is "no" – the safety of all is paramount and that is what we are all working to ensure. We are required by law to put plans in place to ensure public safety, and the public of West Yorkshire rightly expect us to do so. In operational situations, we always try to distinguish different groups of supporters on the ground in an effort to maximise their safety.
Q: West Yorkshire Police lost an appeal overturning a previous court ruling that said Leeds United was not responsible for paying for policing streets and car parks near the Elland Road stadium. If the appeal had gone in the force's favour, would you still have implemented these restrictions?
A: The Leeds United ruling has played no part whatsoever in the decisions taken to categorise this fixture. Decisions are taken on a match-by-match basis, and the key factor in this game was the later kick-off, which increases the risk for disorder before, during and after the match.
Q: Have you been surprised by the response from supporters about the restrictions, and can you understand why they are angry?
A: Let me be perfectly clear. There have never been any intended or unintended slurs upon either group of fans, Hull or Huddersfield. Our position is very clear in that we want fans to come and watch the game in a safe environment. I would go further in reassuring you that West Yorkshire Police fully understand and have openly stated that the vast majority of football supporters from every club in the land are law-abiding.
Q: There is going to be a protest march and hundreds of Hull City fans are planning to go to Huddersfield anyway, making their own way there, and staying in the city centre. Does that make the sanctions to go to the game pretty pointless? Are the restrictions in place to keep sets of supporters apart and, if so, what about Huddersfield and Hull City fans marching together before the match?
A: There were no sanctions. These were restrictions agreed jointly and in good faith by the clubs to help protect public safety and to allow this game to go ahead safely, which is what all parties want, at the end of the day. We have been approached by an individual from Huddersfield who seeks to publicly demonstrate and we have offered him our advice and support. We very much want supporters to come to the stadium and watch what should be a good game of football.
Q: Do you recognise the damage done here insofar as the actions seem to have alienated many people who would ordinarily support the police. How do you expect to repair the damage?
A: We do recognise the strength of feeling this game has aroused and this is precisely why we listened, met the clubs and jointly negotiated modifications to the risk-reduction measures. This has resulted in requests for ticket numbers to be increased and modifications to the transport arrangements for Hull fans. We fully recognise some fans are not happy with the arrangements and, in an ideal world, there would be no restrictions on football matches. The measures have not been put in place lightly, but they are necessary to reduce the risk. Football fixtures carry a varied level of risk and we would support a greater level of advance debate by all interested parties in order to plan ahead at the start of the season to achieve outcomes that are mutually beneficial and minimise risk. To this end, we have remained engaged with the Football Supporters Federation throughout. Finally, we would reiterate that the vast majority of football supporters are decent, law-abiding citizens.
