The CAS Trust have recently contacted the Metropolitan Police regarding concerns with the policing at the Charlton v Millwall match on Saturday 14th January.
This specifically relates to the lack of separation between home and away fans following the full-time whistle.
A copy of the letter can be seen below.
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I am writing to you on behalf of the Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust (CASTrust) in respect of the post-match policing at the Charlton V Millwall match on Saturday 14th January.
As you are no doubt aware supporters who attended the match encountered a difficult and potentially dangerous situation immediately post-match in Floyd Road. The circumstances were as follows: -
Both sets of fans were allowed to leave the ground at the same time, so Floyd Road was about a 50/50 mix of rival supporters as the large crowd moved slowly towards the station. There did not appear to be a significant police presence only a few mounted police dotted along the road. A police officer then decided not to let any fans out onto Charlton Church Lane. The decision being conveyed by megaphone, saying, “We are just going to hold you here for a few minutes”.
A crush was starting to build up from behind. Towards the end of Floyd Road, there are high-sided buildings, so there is little space to the sides. A few scuffles began further back. After about five minutes the police allowed fans to proceed again. There was a much stronger police presence in Charlton Church Lane, including riot police.
A fellow member of the CAS Trust board asked an officer on duty why supporters had been held and expressed concern that it could have led to a serious and dangerous incident. She was advised that there had been trouble at a pub further up the road. However, having made enquiries, CAS Trust understands that this incident occurred long before the final whistle and had largely been dealt with by the police.
In the opinion of CASTrust such police action in holding a large group of rival fans together was potentially inflammatory and dangerous. It was only the good behaviour of the large majority of supporters from both clubs which avoided a flashpoint. Elderly people and young children were among the peaceful and law-abiding supporters caught up in this crowd with nowhere to go.
Please provide answers to the following questions.
1) Why were the Millwall fans not held back in the stadium while Charlton fans dispersed?
2) At the very least, why were Millwall fans not held in Valley Grove and /or Charlton fans held in Harvey Gardens before being allowed to enter Floyd Road in a controlled manner? The geography would easily enable this, avoiding a large, mixed crowd.
3) What was the sudden justification for penning in a very large mixed group of fans in Floyd Road?
4) Once that decision had been taken, what, if anything, was being done to avoid a crush?
5) If trouble had broken out within the crowd how would police have dealt with this in such a packed and mixed environment without serious risk of fear, alarm and injury to peaceful, uninvolved law abiding supporters?
CAS Trust fully appreciate that this was a high-profile local derby match. We continue to support the overall efforts of the police to ensure public safety, for the large majority of genuine fans who simply wish to attend football with no intention of causing, provoking or being involved in any trouble. However, CAS Trust believes that the above questions do require answering.
Yours sincerely
Nigel Kleinfeld – Treasurer CASTrust