: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:43 am
oggy123 wrote:
The fact that they had too call for back up. This is the biggest fan rivalry in the country they should hve been on the safe side and just got the extra poilce in just to make sure. Obviously they couldnt have done anything about the planned fighting if it was a mile away but it was right at the station and anyone worth a pinch of salt would have known to put extra poilce their as thats were its more than likely too kick off
Extra police would have been there. The back up were probably on shift in a central location ready to be called upon depending on where the trouble occured. These things are all planned so they generally go where the police are not.
Have you missed these quotes on the BBC website......
"As we got off the Tube there was a large number of Millwall fans waiting on the platform trying to start fights but there was a large police presence"
Ben Jacobs, BBC, Upton Park
It all started before kick off, outside Upton Park Underground, where hundreds of rival fans broke through a strong police barrier, throwing bottles and even bricks - one of which I personally saw almost hit a pregnant woman.
Police riot team personnel - 500, possibly 1,000 - tried to dissipate the situation. The scuffles filtered to some side roads where one man was stabbed.
When you have such large numbers intent on causing trouble it doesn't matter how many police are there.
