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Police act to prevent football violence
00:00, 20 Feb 2004
By Crewe Chronicle
POLICE descended on Chester's railway station to protect the city from football hooligans.
POLICE descended on Chester's railway station to protect the city from football hooligans.
More than 20 officers and three sniffer dogs guarded trains taking fans to games across the North West on Saturday.
Detective constable Paul Evans, a football liaison officer, said: 'We have to be alert even when matches are not being played in Chester.
'Chester City did not have a game, but the high level of intelligence we receive means that we know when rival supporters will be passing through.
'Last weekend, Barnsley fans were travelling to an away game in Wrexham, while Swansea fans were going to watch a match with Tranmere Rovers in Birkenhead. We knew that both sets of supporters would be in Chester at about the same time.'
Officers from Chester and the British Transport Police escorted the fans and prevented them from leaving the station to go to the city centre.
'It was a joint operation,' said DC Evans. 'It was the supporters' own well-being and the well being of the public.'
The operation to avoid a clash took place after a riot on City Road last month.
Chester City fans returning from an away match in Northwich came to blows with Wrexham supporters in what is believed to be an organised clash arranged on the Internet.
Pool cues, thought to be stolen from the Deva Mail Social Club, were used as weapons. Several windows were smashed and vehicles damaged.
Three people were arrested following the incident.
DC Evans said: 'As a result of information we have received, we will be putting on extra members of staff at the station and nearby pubs on match days.
'We will work closely with Chester Pub Watch to identify any football supporters or any other member of the public out to cause trouble to ensure that the people of Chester, any visitors or shoppers can go about their business.
'This will be ongoing to curtail any further problems.'
As Chester's football liaison officer of 20 years experience, DC Evans assesses the need for policing, mainly when Chester City, Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Tranmere are playing.
'You have to take each game on its own merits,' he said. 'I make a decision using my local knowledge and using information about trains.
'We also have a high level of intelligence from other sources who regularly give us information about the movements of groups.'
DC Evans said policing of football fans in Cheshire will be stepped up during the World Cup qualifiers next year, which he says may be held at Old Trafford.
'Cheshire is the centre of the country and most football fans will be travelling through the county at some point,' he said.
00:00, 20 Feb 2004
By Crewe Chronicle
POLICE descended on Chester's railway station to protect the city from football hooligans.
POLICE descended on Chester's railway station to protect the city from football hooligans.
More than 20 officers and three sniffer dogs guarded trains taking fans to games across the North West on Saturday.
Detective constable Paul Evans, a football liaison officer, said: 'We have to be alert even when matches are not being played in Chester.
'Chester City did not have a game, but the high level of intelligence we receive means that we know when rival supporters will be passing through.
'Last weekend, Barnsley fans were travelling to an away game in Wrexham, while Swansea fans were going to watch a match with Tranmere Rovers in Birkenhead. We knew that both sets of supporters would be in Chester at about the same time.'
Officers from Chester and the British Transport Police escorted the fans and prevented them from leaving the station to go to the city centre.
'It was a joint operation,' said DC Evans. 'It was the supporters' own well-being and the well being of the public.'
The operation to avoid a clash took place after a riot on City Road last month.
Chester City fans returning from an away match in Northwich came to blows with Wrexham supporters in what is believed to be an organised clash arranged on the Internet.
Pool cues, thought to be stolen from the Deva Mail Social Club, were used as weapons. Several windows were smashed and vehicles damaged.
Three people were arrested following the incident.
DC Evans said: 'As a result of information we have received, we will be putting on extra members of staff at the station and nearby pubs on match days.
'We will work closely with Chester Pub Watch to identify any football supporters or any other member of the public out to cause trouble to ensure that the people of Chester, any visitors or shoppers can go about their business.
'This will be ongoing to curtail any further problems.'
As Chester's football liaison officer of 20 years experience, DC Evans assesses the need for policing, mainly when Chester City, Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Tranmere are playing.
'You have to take each game on its own merits,' he said. 'I make a decision using my local knowledge and using information about trains.
'We also have a high level of intelligence from other sources who regularly give us information about the movements of groups.'
DC Evans said policing of football fans in Cheshire will be stepped up during the World Cup qualifiers next year, which he says may be held at Old Trafford.
'Cheshire is the centre of the country and most football fans will be travelling through the county at some point,' he said.