[Albion] crystal palace fans have lodged an official complaint against Sussex Police

[Thunder Bolt]

Correct - not only having to watch the shambles that was a 0-5 defeat, the slow, slow enforced walk back to Norwood Junction took the absolute piss.

Especially when, like a friend of mine, he had driven from the West Country and didn't want the station.

 

[Sheebo]

their best efforts in years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivet0m-hdK8
regards
DR

Tidy BHA firm in that vid...

 

[The Large One]

Palace fans launch official complaint against Sussex Police

PA 34384004 Palace fans brighton
Crystal Palace fans have lodged an official complaint against Sussex Police following their treatment at the club’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion in November 2017.

Instructing specialist solicitors to act on their behalf - Crystal Palace Supporters’ Trust (CPST) argue that Crystal Palace supporters who had caused no trouble were subject to “extremely coercive policing”.

The Trust say that the events at the fixture on 28th November, which included blanket ‘kettling’ and escorting of Palace fans, have significantly damaged supporters’ trust and confidence in Sussex Police.

The letter says: “The CPST request that the failures as outlined are investigated thoroughly and that those officers responsible for these foreseeable failures are appropriately disciplined.”

Superintendent Simon Nelson has also been criticised for spreading false accusations against Palace fans who, he claimed on his Twitter account, had brought knives and knuckledusters to the fixture – an allegation Sussex Police later admitted was false.

“There has never been a public explanation for the source of the incorrect information promulgated by Supt. Nelson both in the press release and then in his tweets,” CPST said.

“It is unacceptable for an officer, and a senior officer no less, to put forward very serious allegations without evidence to back them up.”

A Freedom of Information request, submitted by the Five Year Plan Palace fanzine, seeking answers about the allegations has yet to be answered – despite the statutory limit for a response having long expired.

CPST’s letter to Sussex Police’s Head of Professional Standards was submitted by ITN solicitors, who have represented supporters previously in actions against the police. The FSF also provided financial and practical support.

“The Trust would like to thank all the fans who came forward to share their stories, and to supporters, and the FSF who (along with the Trust) co-funded this action,” CPST said yesterday. “The Trust would also like to help FYP Fanzine for their support.”

Actually, the police did answer the questions - publicly, just not directly to FOI claimant.

 

[The Birdman]

Grow up Palace your police scared the life out of my nephews when they surrounded us in the seats with riot shields and batons and kept us in for Half an hour after the game finished a few years back.
Palace are the only team that's caused problems having said that we have still got Spurs and United to play.
Can you remind me who brought Firworks to the game.
Funny we are playing them this weekend sounds like poo gate all over again.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Palace really need to sort out the root cause of the issues before deflecting and scapegoating.

 

[Mackenzie]

Difficult to have much sympathy with this when a section of their fans came down to cause trouble. Sort that out first and they might get somewhere.

 

[veuve]

you want to blame someone.blame your always ultras .There is some great footage so how many have your club banned?
That's the cover up

 

[Creaky]

you want to blame someone.blame your always ultras .There is some great footage so how many have your club banned?
That's the cover up

Easy to say that the CPST is trying to blame anyone, I read it as a complaint - one that on the face of it and also from personal experience contains many valid points.

What right do the police have to force an individual to board a train against their will, to stop them from going about their lawful business?

If you commit an offence or are reasonably suspected of doing so then fair enough but to force people, including the young and the old, to go on an hour and a half march against their will just doesn’t seem right - sure, anyone who has gone to away matches will probably have suffered similar to a greater or lesser degree but that doesn’t make it right nor acceptable.

With all the modern technology and resources available to police and other civil authorities it should be possible to target known trouble makers and to respond swiftly where individuals may cause trouble leaving the vast majority of law abiding supporters to enjoy the day.

I feel that as football fans we should be supporting many of the complaints raised.

 

[Dougie]

Easy to say that the CPST is trying to blame anyone, I read it as a complaint - one that on the face of it and also from personal experience contains many valid points.

What right do the police have to force an individual to board a train against their will, to stop them from going about their lawful business?

If you commit an offence or are reasonably suspected of doing so then fair enough but to force people, including the young and the old, to go on an hour and a half march against their will just doesn’t seem right - sure, anyone who has gone to away matches will probably have suffered similar to a greater or lesser degree but that doesn’t make it right nor acceptable.

With all the modern technology and resources available to police and other civil authorities it should be possible to target known trouble makers and to respond swiftly where individuals may cause trouble leaving the vast majority of law abiding supporters to enjoy the day.

I feel that as football fans we should be supporting many of the complaints raised.

Thank you . At last some sense .

 

[Betfair Bozo]

Couple of obvious points. Some Palace were very snide, that is a fact. But enough whataboutery. Sussex Police did not cover themselves in glory either on the night, or particularly with regard to the ridiculous claims about knives and knuckle dusters (I mean, ffs.) No-one comes out of this well. I will add that compared to what plenty of us have had to put up with in the past Sussex Police are by and large very good in terms of football policing but these issues need addressing, to the benefit of everyone in the long run (including the police themselves.)

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

you want to blame someone.blame your always ultras .There is some great footage so how many have your club banned?
That's the cover up

Indeed. It is a big cover up and deflection to get the ultras off the hook.

Palace need to prioritise sorting out the root cause of the issues before any whining and scapegoating.

 

[Stat Brother]

Thank you . At last some sense .

It's just a shame you're not coming at this from a position of strength though, isn't it?

Complaining about being treated like animals while behaving like animals all sounds very hollow.

 

[Creaky]

It's just a shame you're not coming at this from a position of strength though, isn't it?

Complaining about being treated like animals while behaving like animals all sounds very hollow.

Unfortunately that’s the exact same argument used by the ‘authorities’ and directed at football fans in general when they ‘justify’ all seater stadiums, no alcohol, special court powers to ban individuals and so on.

Not all football fans are animals, they’re in the minority and a tiny one at that.

 

[pishhead]

Unfortunately that’s the exact same argument used by the ‘authorities’ and directed at football fans in general when they ‘justify’ all seater stadiums, no alcohol, special court powers to ban individuals and so on.

Not all football fans are animals, they’re in the minority and a tiny one at that.

As always the few ruin it for the many.

 

[bobbysmith01]

As always the few ruin it for the many.

Agree with them about point 3, being kept in a Weatherspoon’s is totally criminal. Seriously though, most of this stuff we have had to endure at Palace every year we have played them and the reason I will never go again. Think the only valid complaint is the Police lies re weapons. But as many have stated, their Ultras caused the issues, saw them, they were total classless pigs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Arkwright]

Yes the police comments after the game were just ridiculous and by the sound of it unfounded, also I have every sympathy with Palace fans who didn't gain entry with tickets. I know a couple of Palace who didn't get in and while they were unhappy with the police they were equally angry with Palace fans behaviour.
However the build up to the game on social media and on the day was just over the top. Graffiti all over the city, vandalism on art, large groups of hoodies intimidating passersby, followed up by storming the turnstiles and setting off flares. The reaction from the police was always going to be as over the top as the fans behaviour.
My biggest concerns are two fold, will future games have away fans banned as it just isn't worth the cost of additional policing and stewarding who clearly can't cope. Last, I know it's an easy dig but the total lack of response from CPFC as a club, do Palace fans guilty of misbehaviour feel they have got away with it and if so what rubbish will we have to endure on Saturday.

 

[BNthree]

Posted in a different thread but relevant here:

View attachment 95994

 

[Mackenzie]

Unfortunately that’s the exact same argument used by the ‘authorities’ and directed at football fans in general when they ‘justify’ all seater stadiums, no alcohol, special court powers to ban individuals and so on.

Not all football fans are animals, they’re in the minority and a tiny one at that.

A tiny minority who are treated favourably by their clubs hierarchy.

Think on that!

 

[Easy 10]

I would just ban away fans from both fixtures, its just not worth the hassle. This game always brings out the mingmongs in force. I'd happily never see their mob at the Amex again, being as large proportion of them are complete and utter filth and behave like animals. Same with Millwall. We don't need our town and stadium invaded and turned into a military zone just to cater for the minority of fvcknuggets who still think its 1978. I know it gives PPF a hard-on, but really, its just tiresome.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Easy to say that the CPST is trying to blame anyone, I read it as a complaint - one that on the face of it and also from personal experience contains many valid points.

What right do the police have to force an individual to board a train against their will, to stop them from going about their lawful business?

If you commit an offence or are reasonably suspected of doing so then fair enough but to force people, including the young and the old, to go on an hour and a half march against their will just doesn’t seem right - sure, anyone who has gone to away matches will probably have suffered similar to a greater or lesser degree but that doesn’t make it right nor acceptable.

With all the modern technology and resources available to police and other civil authorities it should be possible to target known trouble makers and to respond swiftly where individuals may cause trouble leaving the vast majority of law abiding supporters to enjoy the day.

I feel that as football fans we should be supporting many of the complaints raised.

Agree. Police have to be fully accountable, and it's clear there were some major errors by the police that night.

But I also agree that the Palace Board have been pathetic by their silence - there is clear footage of people jumping the barriers at the away end - how many have been banned?

Fault lies on both sides.