As promised a response to your post of the 7th April !!!! In order. My understanding is that Police cannot change KO times and dates. They make recommendations to club and Safety Advisory Group. However, they could refuse to Police the game, which in effect would mean game not played on original date!!! The Metrodome is the "drinking establishment " of choice for away fans, by the Police. The club would obviously prefer that they were in Oakwell on both safety and financial reasons. This is an ongoing negotiation. Police messages are repeated to gain attention. Car Park and areas near the ground are now controlled by a Traffic Management Company and not Stewards or Police. This also covers what are in effect Emergency Routes, so that from this season certain streets close to the ground will be "off limits" and Penalty notices will be issued to any vehicles parked in these areas. Hopefully with The Groggers Rest now closed and demolition taking place flashpoints in that area should diminish Pitch Invasions !!!!! Topical. Stewards are in control, with the blue jacketed stewards to remove offenders. Police can later be involved if invited by Match Commander, Safety Officer, Chief Steward etc. Fans with Smoke bombs etc. Offenders may not be removed immediately if this could cause the situation to escalate. Stewards must not be put at risk etc. The Offenders are usually picked up from CCTV, and verbal reference and then "removed " at a suitable time ie half time or end of game. The above replies are my own responses. If, any of the above replies have now been changed i apologise. As you will appreciate i can't " run back to Ben " on every query !!!! Up the Reds
These people must be invisible because i've never seen them and didn't yesterday either. Someone should be at the bottom gate down by the food van with traffic going both ways and hundreds of people trying to cross the road. It's only going to be more unsafe when we have night matches like Everton, a situation not helped by the Ponte car park floodlights never being on.
Cheers for the answers. Ive got to say i feel the police or club get it wrongin alotofthe issues. The smoke bomb thing for example i think its highly irresponsible not to act swiftly when in all probability the offenders will have a second smoke bomb thst they are waiting to use