[Albion] FAO PC Darren Balkham

[Bozza]

I can see your point but storming the gates is not difficult to police effectively

There seems to be a suggestion that the tactic used was to let off pyros outside the turnstyles for the away end and then, when people couldn't see and/or were choking and/or were disoriented they'd pile into the ground.

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[rippleman]

So people come to Brighton and vandalise a mural the night before a match then (possibly different people) storm the turnstiles injuring two stewards and illegally let off pyrotechnics and it is the Police's fault?

Um.....yes!

They were supposed to be there to prevent disorder. There were dozens in their robocop kit on the bridge doing SFA.

There was serious disorder both inside and outside the ground. From posts here there were serious safety issues at the coach park. Yes, the Palace scum were responsible for the disorder, but that's only to be expected. But the failure to prevent the storming of the gate and the failure to remove the Palace scum responsible when the FIRST flare was let off was down to the OB. Still, nice overtime!

 

[The Clamp]

There seems to be a suggestion that the tactic used was to let off pyros outside the turnstyles for the away end and then, when people couldn't see and/or were choking and/or were disoriented they'd pile into the ground.

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"You officers stay and guard the fire exits while we go and sort that lot out over there".

 

[Originunknown]

End of discussion basically. Those videos confirm what mindless actions were taken by their own fans and the completely proportionate and responsible actions of the club/police to close the turnstiles.

End of.

 

[getreal1]

Balkham always has been next to useless. He loves to see himself on Twitter telling the world about his great work negating the type of abuse which has been covered a million times within these pages. Could he not also cover more traditional coppering too?

 

[Gazwag]

So where were they tonight?

Outside the away end

 

[Klaas]

 

[papajaff]

Darren Balkham is a decent bloke, definitely not a tosser.

Have a chat with him next time rather than cowardly asking ****ing stupid questions from behind a keyboard.

 

[A1X]

The point about the searches being poor is well made. Last night one of the guys I go with had the usual pat down by the stewards but nobody looked inside the carrier bag he was holding having visited the store beforehand. Just because it's a Brighton-branded carrier doesn't mean, for me, it shouldn't have been searched.

 

[Gazwag]

This is a valid point. People were coming close to being suffocated in the unsupervised and unnecessary pinch point at the foot of the coach park steps, watched from a distance by policemen in robocop gear. Eventually they realised that the whole thing was a cock up and not needed anyway because the Palace fans were the other side of a herd of horses. But it took them too long to understand this and added to the feeling of football supporters that they are not seen as worthwhile people. The person in front of me was 84 for heaven's sake.

Really, we walked around the east from the NS about 6-7 minutes after full time and there was a bit of a queue to get behind the barrier to walk up to the step but no real issues. The queue was no bigger than it usually is, if fact I thought it was much smoother and quicker than usual.

 

[Gazwag]

This thread is aimed at Darren who I've spoken to a couple of times at away matches and believe he does a good job as liaison between fans, club & away police. It is because of his job that I feel he should be putting his/police side of the security arrangements. We should not be having a go at him but treating him for what he is, a spokesman who represents all sides but has the Brighton fans safety as his main priority.

Balkham is a tosser who wants to be seen on Twitter more than actually policing anything.

Balkham is an absolute prick who just enjoys the status he recieves through his posts on twitter.

It seems some maybe using this thread for personal abuse or another agenda. I know he helped out one of our fans at Lincoln last season who was wrongfully arrested and droved him down to the services where he re-joined our coach. If that's the actions of a prick then maybe I don't understand the word.

 

[Bozza]

Darren Balkham is a decent bloke, definitely not a tosser.

Have a chat with him next time rather than cowardly asking ****ing stupid questions from behind a keyboard.

Agreed. There seem to be a group of people who were just sitting and waiting for the slightest opportunity to have a go after this game.

I wouldn't want the job of having to deal with events like last night - it looks absolutely horrendous.

 

[Munkfish]

It seems some maybe using this thread for personal abuse or another agenda. I know he helped out one of our fans at Lincoln last season who was wrongfully arrested and droved him down to the services where he re-joined our coach. If that's the actions of a prick then maybe I don't understand the word.

Matter of opinion. Still a helmet in my book.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Matter of opinion. Still a helmet in my book.

My opinion is he isn't

 

[Munkfish]

My opinion is he isn't

Good for you.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Good for you.

Ye it is isn't it

 

[Munkfish]

Ye it is isn't it

Ok Darrens Mum, I am sure he can defend himself.

 

[CHAPPERS]

There seems to be a suggestion that the tactic used was to let off pyros outside the turnstyles for the away end and then, when people couldn't see and/or were choking and/or were disoriented they'd pile into the ground.

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If this doesn't warrant some kind of points deduction I don't know what does. That is SO dangerous.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Ok Darrens Mum, I am sure he can defend himself.

I'm sure he can...just giving my opinion just like you ..Darrens mum? LOL

 

[Munkfish]

I'm sure he can...just giving my opinion just like you ..Darrens mum? LOL

Thats exactly what Darrens Mum would say.