" Birmingham/Westham the other night(West Midlands Police) "

The Sun

FOLLOWING West Ham to Birmingham on Wednesday night was like stepping into a violent episode of Life on Mars.
The night started with the carrot of a Wembley cup final.

But it ended with the sticks of Midlands police officers bringing mayhem and bitter resentment that destroyed a special occasion.

Not since I was a 20-year-old following West Ham around a country gripped by the evil of football hooliganism in the late 70s and early 80s have I witnessed such archaic and barbaric policing of a docile crowd.

At around 6.15pm, a Birmingham policeman walked into the centre of The Crown pub where I was chatting with friends and announced we should drink up immediately as we were about to be 'escorted to the stadium for our own protection'.

I was in a group comprising a mid-50s antiques dealer and his broker son, an NHS manager, a healthcare official, a systems manager, a recruitment manager and numerous other professionals.

We were herded outside where dozens of police were ready to 'protect' us to St Andrew's two miles away.

Around a dozen police linked arms, facing the fans, and set off walking backwards away from the pub. Their colleagues, pleasantly at first, encouraged us to set off slowly after them.

But things soon turned sour. Police forced us to walk at a crawl. Any attempt to reach even normal walking pace was greeted with threats and a shove.

After stopping off at The Dragon pub to 'protect' another large gathering of West Ham fans, we set off again at a snail's pace, the group now several hundred strong.

It was soon evident that, despite being dragged out of the pub 90 minutes from kick-off, we would NOT be allowed to see that kick-off.

Fans who had quietly obeyed every instruction began raising their voices, demanding answers — and to be treated with respect.

Our protest — loud but peaceful — prompted another extraordinary reaction from police.

Officers were ordered to draw their batons. Kids at the front, too young to see the warning signs, were hit indiscriminately when they refused to stay quiet.

Fans tried to surge forward to confront their attackers-in-uniform. The police responded with violence. Tempers soon frayed again when dozens of riot police, with shields, batons and helmets, suddenly ran out of streets all around us and sprinted to the head of our group.

Without warning we were forcibly stopped. Ten minutes to kick-off, no stadium in sight, been walking for 80 minutes and now being pushed back by riot police.

A sergeant raised his megaphone and screamed: "Use all force necessary to retain control."

People tried to run for cover. But they had nowhere to run and just had to stand and take the legalised bullying. Finally, at 7.55pm, we arrived at the stadium.

In one final show of 'strength', the riot police decided to form a human barricade between us and the turnstiles. "We won't let you in," one told me, "until you calm down."

At the end, as Birmingham celebrated their deserved win, West Ham fans began filing out to begin the long journey home. No police escort this time. No concern for our 'protection'.

We were confronted by a huge gang of local yobs who sprayed us with Mace, pelted us with missiles and repeatedly charged.

And what of the riot police?

They were standing around in small groups having a social chat.

I usually take my 16-year-old son with me to see West Ham wherever I go. Thank God I decided not to subject him to the brutal world of 1970s Birmingham police control.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... atons.html

This needs to be looked at! How many times have they done similar things to us?

Absolute waste of space they are

Havent had the chance to go to birminghams ground yet. but when i went to wolves a few years ago they were scumbags. its unbelievable how the police get away with this everytime a team come down. you can see the similarities between WMP and the yorkshire police force. always treat football fans like scum.

Being a cIty fan nothing there surprises me the words Police Intelligence are a contadiction in terms during my time following City 40 years now :-

I have left a pub in Wolverhampton only to be grabbed by one of West Midlands 'finest' and be told 'if i see your face again your nicked'


Been smashed over my head with a truncheon at Eastville whilst walking across the terraces to talk to my Mate (Mind you there was a bit of a fracas going on at the time)

Been chased by a copper and his alsatian at Walsall for daring to question an unprovoked attack on a City fan by the same dog handler at the turnstiles at the Bescott.

Threatened with arrest for walking on the road at Maine Road because the Manchester Police tried to march 7000 City fans in single file on the pavement

Detained at Stoke for refusing to remove my baseball cap and questioning why they wanted the details and photographs of everyone on our coach at that time the coach included children and OAPs!

When confronted by 4 'lads' at QPR 2 seasons ago on standing my ground i was pushed in the chest by a cooper and told 'to f**k off Taffy because they are West Ham'

These are just a few incidents i have had with our wonderful boys in Blue and there are many others where i have been spoken to and treated like a piece of shit. Anyone who knows me will know i am not and have never been a trouble maker but in all my years supporting City i have had more hassle and trouble from the police than i have ever had off opposition supporters

Jeff how often have " social gatherings " at away games been soured by the Police ? I like you have enjoyed many a pint at a pub before an away game only to have them turn up ham fisted , lights flashing as if world war 3 had broken out . And the only crime is actually being a Cardiff fan having a pint in a pub , does anybody remember the incident with the police horse trying to get into the pub outside Burnden Park Bolton back in the early 80's ?

The WMP really are a laughable outfit who tarnish the rest of the police forces in the U.K. with their confrontational antics

I was with about 200 Cardiff fans years ago when we went to Huddersfield for an evening kick off. Police waited outside the station to escort us to the ground. They then starting pushing our supporters then battered us with their batons for no reasons at all.
They said it was for the miners strike years ago. If it wasnt for the Cardiff fans with video evidence, then we would have had 12 fans jailed.
The judge couldnt believe the video evidence.
What do our fans do now, as its illegal to film police?
W-anchors comes to mind.......

very well written, it really sums up the attitude of the west midlands police towards away supporters they are the ones inciting trouble

Jeff how often have " social gatherings " at away games been soured by the Police ? I like you have enjoyed many a pint at a pub before an away game only to have them turn up ham fisted , lights flashing as if world war 3 had broken out . And the only crime is actually being a Cardiff fan having a pint in a pub , does anybody remember the incident with the police horse trying to get into the pub outside Burnden Park Bolton back in the early 80's ?

Mart, The problem is that in the eyes of the police being a Cardiff fan is a crime

The South wales Police seem pretty good in comparison, cetrainlt contain any trouble down here without really heavy tactics - helped by the layout on the new ground.

Typical W.M police... Whats new

The WMP really are a laughable outfit who tarnish the rest of the police forces in the U.K. with their confrontational antics

South Yorkshire Police aint far behind

In a survey carried out a few years ago asking football fans in general to vote on the worse Police force area involved in football policing, the West Midland Police were by a long mile the very best of the worse, how do they get away with it.

I suppose in the ideal world Brum , Wolves and Villa get relegated and Cardiff get promoted and the boys in blue will have an easy ride nxt season ?

The WMP really are a laughable outfit who tarnish the rest of the police forces in the U.K. with their confrontational antics

South Yorkshire Police aint far behind

I was about to say. They are the worst in my personal experience. I remember when the big troubles happened up at Bramall Lane a few years back, before the game the police were just igniting problems. I got searched three times by three consecutive policeman and then got asked to show ID as well. I wasn't in a crowd, I wasnt causing trouble and I was only in my late teens at the time. I got stinking looks off them and each time I was treated like a war prisoner. Can't stand their attitude. Bullies in uniform.

In a survey carried out a few years ago asking football fans in general to vote on the worse Police force area involved in football policing, the West Midland Police were by a long mile the very best of the worse, how do they get away with it.

Because they can simple as that and with the blessing of the law behind them, Rule Brittiania eh.

I was with about 200 Cardiff fans years ago when we went to Huddersfield for an evening kick off. Police waited outside the station to escort us to the ground. They then starting pushing our supporters then battered us with their batons for no reasons at all.
They said it was for the miners strike years ago. If it wasnt for the Cardiff fans with video evidence, then we would have had 12 fans jailed.
The judge couldnt believe the video evidence.
What do our fans do now, as its illegal to film police?
W-anchors comes to mind.......

They were just as bad after the match (2-2). Especially the cavalry on their horses indescriminantly hitting out at anyone and everyone. The Met have had their moments too but I was impressed with them when we played Millwall in the return fixture in 1999, banging their batons on their shields to the tune of Men of Harlech while Millwall were going potty up the road and having a laugh and a joke. Treat people with repsect and you'll usually get it back.

Aye the WMP and SYP should be made to scrap each other to the death. Police battle of Britain

get the feeling that next season will be very interesting... either its going to be bubble after bubble or fight your way in and fight your way out.......

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Mark Price likes this.
Mark Price Now there's a surprise. But nothing ever gets done about them.
5 hours ago · Like · 2 people



Eugene Rego They get away with it all the time,the trouble iv had with them scum bags over the years has cost me lots of money,i can take being smashed up but for f*ck all i find hard to take,7-8 cops onto 1 big men you riot police scum,send them over to afganistan in the front line see how big you are then,i dont shed no tears when a copper dies anymore cos i seen there true faces ,everyone needs to turn on them.
5 hours ago · Like


Mark Price Your spot on mate. They are a bunch of cowards hiding behind their shields. Take us on face to face with no weapons see how good they are then. One day a mob are going to rip these scum apart and we will be tarnished as thugs as before. The police are always innocent ain't they. Not
4 hours ago · Like

Dafydd 'Koumas' Jones i dont believe you not the west midlands police.haa!!bastards they are!!
4 hours ago · Like
Ross Welch Typical wmp bunch of twats
4 hours ago · Like

John Williams Worst ob in the country by far
2 hours ago · Like


Anthony Chiplin Ican remember goin Birmingham few seasons ago on cold sunday mornin to watch the city we were treated like shit up there we had seats coins all sorts thrown at us the brum police let them get away wiv it but drew there asp sticks at us cardiff fans doin f**k all !
2 hours ago · Like

west ham got smashed all over the shop and now cry about it

The West Midlands Police are a bunch of wankers-i'll never forgive them after our game v Wolves where we won 3-2 at Molineux. I had my eldest boy Charlie with me and he was about 7. We walked out of the ground and could see straight away that there was a battle going on. As a responsible dad i decided to look for an alternative exit as i didnt want to take Charlie into a mini riot so we turned to go up some steps that were blocked by police. i asked if we could go up the steps as i wanted to avoid the trouble. I was told in no uncertain terms that i couldnt go the safe way and that i had to walk through the trouble.


Bunch of pricks.

The Sun

FOLLOWING West Ham to Birmingham on Wednesday night was like stepping into a violent episode of Life on Mars.
The night started with the carrot of a Wembley cup final.

But it ended with the sticks of Midlands police officers bringing mayhem and bitter resentment that destroyed a special occasion.

Not since I was a 20-year-old following West Ham around a country gripped by the evil of football hooliganism in the late 70s and early 80s have I witnessed such archaic and barbaric policing of a docile crowd.

At around 6.15pm, a Birmingham policeman walked into the centre of The Crown pub where I was chatting with friends and announced we should drink up immediately as we were about to be 'escorted to the stadium for our own protection'.

I was in a group comprising a mid-50s antiques dealer and his broker son, an NHS manager, a healthcare official, a systems manager, a recruitment manager and numerous other professionals.

We were herded outside where dozens of police were ready to 'protect' us to St Andrew's two miles away.

Around a dozen police linked arms, facing the fans, and set off walking backwards away from the pub. Their colleagues, pleasantly at first, encouraged us to set off slowly after them.

But things soon turned sour. Police forced us to walk at a crawl. Any attempt to reach even normal walking pace was greeted with threats and a shove.

After stopping off at The Dragon pub to 'protect' another large gathering of West Ham fans, we set off again at a snail's pace, the group now several hundred strong.

It was soon evident that, despite being dragged out of the pub 90 minutes from kick-off, we would NOT be allowed to see that kick-off.

Fans who had quietly obeyed every instruction began raising their voices, demanding answers — and to be treated with respect.

Our protest — loud but peaceful — prompted another extraordinary reaction from police.

Officers were ordered to draw their batons. Kids at the front, too young to see the warning signs, were hit indiscriminately when they refused to stay quiet.

Fans tried to surge forward to confront their attackers-in-uniform. The police responded with violence. Tempers soon frayed again when dozens of riot police, with shields, batons and helmets, suddenly ran out of streets all around us and sprinted to the head of our group.

Without warning we were forcibly stopped. Ten minutes to kick-off, no stadium in sight, been walking for 80 minutes and now being pushed back by riot police.

A sergeant raised his megaphone and screamed: "Use all force necessary to retain control."

People tried to run for cover. But they had nowhere to run and just had to stand and take the legalised bullying. Finally, at 7.55pm, we arrived at the stadium.

In one final show of 'strength', the riot police decided to form a human barricade between us and the turnstiles. "We won't let you in," one told me, "until you calm down."

At the end, as Birmingham celebrated their deserved win, West Ham fans began filing out to begin the long journey home. No police escort this time. No concern for our 'protection'.

We were confronted by a huge gang of local yobs who sprayed us with Mace, pelted us with missiles and repeatedly charged.

And what of the riot police?

They were standing around in small groups having a social chat.

I usually take my 16-year-old son with me to see West Ham wherever I go. Thank God I decided not to subject him to the brutal world of 1970s Birmingham police control.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... atons.html

cockney wankers

I don't understand you when, it's the students you're on the ob side, how many times do i have to tell you....OB ARE THE ENEMY!!!!!!

Coppers are basically cunts who hate the people they have to police day in day out!

They see football as a free day out where they can bully people who they wouldnt
say boo to out of uniform.

I had a copper giving me shit up in Huddersfield once for nothing. We were just
having a beer in a quiet boozer, the locals were fine. Coppers came in and dragged
us out. the locals went nuts, taking their numbers etc. One mouthy tw*t was
calling me a Welsh tw*t... i asked if there were any boxing clubs around. Someone
asked why.. i said "cos out of uniform, stick some gloves on and id legally have you
crying for your mam!"... he didnt know what to do or say. The prick just shuffled
off and the Landlord told the coppers to f**k off and leave us alone... they did!

Coppers are basically cunts who hate the people they have to police day in day out!

That's a sweeping generalisation. Personally i know about 6 coppers. 5 are really nice people whilst 1 is a nob.

Certain forces like WMP and SYP are disgusting in the way they treat football fans. SWP are actually pretty good and treat the majority with the respect they deserve. Hampshire Police, the Met, Lancashire and the Northumbria force are pretty good. Wiltshire are a bunch of tw@ts-more interested in nicking motorists.