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Watching football is not a crime!
Anyone going get in touch with The FSF and voice your concerns info@fsf.org.uk

The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) is the democratic organisation representing the rights of fans and arguing the views of football supporters in England and Wales. The FSF is totally free to join as well so the question is, if you’re not a member, why not?
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Strength comes in number and you’ll be joining more than 500,000 of your fellow fans in the fight for safe standing, lower ticket prices and the protection of our clubs. Our members are made up of individual fans and members of local supporters’ organisations throughout the professional structure and many more from further down the football pyramid.

The Safe Standing Campaign, Twenty's Plenty for Away Tickets and Watching Football Is Not A Crime! are examples of ongoing campaigns which the FSF leads. Hopefully they’ll prove to be as successful as previous campaigns like No To Gam£ 39 which helped kill off the Premier League’s widely-hated idea of a 39th game to be held on foreign fields.

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Of course there’s a huge range of issues which can affect fans in the modern era. From fans who find themselves in a spot of bother with police or stewards (see Watching Football Is Not A Crime!) to queries and complaints relating to “consumer” issues such as ticketing, the FSF is here to help. If there’s something not right, email: info@fsf.org.uk.

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May be better emailing Amanda amanda.jacks@fsf.org.uk actually, as she deals with police and stewarding issues.

No. My mate was arrested at Tranmere when we were relegated and the police threatened to plant a knife on him. For the record he had never carried a knife in his life!

Quoted from Rik e B

No. My mate was arrested at Tranmere when we were relegated and the police threatened to plant a knife on him. For the record he had never carried a knife in his life!

Does he use chop sticks?

Quoted from Rik e B

No. My mate was arrested at Tranmere when we were relegated and the police threatened to plant a knife on him. For the record he had never carried a knife in his life!

Maybe he told them he was going for a night out in Liverpool in which case the knife was just for safety. God bless those rozzers. Some of them are just too caring for their own good ;)

Any dodgyness and film the convo with the police on your camera. They cannot stop u from using your phone. So many coppers have been made look like a twit lol.

If this is this case I'm not attending now I can predict what will happen with innocent fans getting turned away to justify this nonsensical set up.

I'm with grim. wasn't really planning on going but defenately not now. What a load of tosh.

As we don't need the points having reached the playoffs it would be good to boycott the game. See what sort of a fuss Tranmere would make to the police for all of the gate receipts they'd lose...........

UTM

Come on guys, don't be girls privates, let's get there and out shout the plastic scousers.

Your right of course Harryharryharry and to miss the game is ridiculous and I shan't but I'm getting a little drunk off with our treatment...........

UTM

As above email Amanda at FSF - things won't change if people accept it.

It's like a totalitarian pre-crime Orwellian nightmare!

I'm working and kind of glad.

Even if they beat us Braintree will do enough so bye bye you phoney scouse cuunts we are going up (clap)(clap)(clap)(clap) horrible policing I recall last time

How many times have Merseyside old bill issued a section 34 for Everton and Liverpool games this season? anyone any idea.

I know Wrexham requested a police presence at Blundell Park recently, also a Wrexham coaches were stopped on approach to Grimsby and one was told to turn back.

Will be doing my pre-match drinking outside the 'dispersal zone' on the other side of the Mersey. Can't be arsed with being treated like a criminal by Merseyside Police for simply attending a football match.

Quoted from Chrisblor

Will be doing my pre-match drinking outside the 'dispersal zone' on the other side of the Mersey. Can't be arsed with being treated like a criminal by Merseyside Police for simply attending a football match.

Couldn't agree more. Get the train from Central to Rock Ferry and walk up.

This week of all weeks, Merseyside Police, of all police forces ought not to be assuming football fans are criminals.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

This week of all weeks, Merseyside Police, of all police forces ought not to be assuming football fans are criminals.

Indeed.
I have been to Tranmere on numerous occasions; good and bad result-wise, and because I was based in that region for uni and beyond, I've attended from various directions, by various methods
(car, minibus, train, bus, foot) and don't recall one incident needing Police involvement.

Perhaps we should defer to the Police's 'insider knowledge' but it does seem an odd call - what is the actual risk here, what are the criteria used?

Why this game and not the 45 beforehand?

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

Indeed.
I have been to Tranmere on numerous occasions; good and bad result-wise, and because I was based in that region for uni and beyond, I've attended from various directions, by various methods
(car, minibus, train, bus, foot) and don't recall one incident needing Police involvement.

Perhaps we should defer to the Police's 'insider knowledge' but it does seem an odd call - what is the actual risk here, what are the criteria used?

Why this game and not the 45 beforehand?

Probably the so called football intelligence officers justifying OT costs etc and alleged hooligan chatter they have picked up on from social media.I would suspect both Clubs are classed pretty high risk for this fixture even though no history between the fans.A bad result for the home side and around 500 away fans with a catalogue of previous offences to have a go at means the Police will be looking for some arrests.We all now how football works guilty until proved innocent so best off avoiding this game at all costs or head down and mouth shut.UTM

Seen this on the telewag comments

Quoted from Grimsby Telegraph

As a Tranmere fan I'm pretty sure this is in anticipation of the meltdown our idiot following will go through when we don't make the playoffs. The fact we've been awful all season is irrelevant. Please don't take this as disrespect against yourselves.

Quoted from mariner83

Seen this on the telewag comments

I suspect Town fans with a decent memory will enjoy gloating at the final whistle win lose or draw if Tranmere fail to crash the Play Offs.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Do it for chima

Last time I went there with you we nearly died from exhaust fumes ;D

I contacted the football supporters federation and Amanda Jacks sent me this reply re the dispersal zone............

"...Based on the number of arrests and complaints that come our way, Merseyside Police are one of the better forces when it comes to policing football matches.

I shadowed Merseyside Police for the LFC v MUFC Uefa Cup fixture and they had the same powers in place then.  I witnessed them dispersing a small group of supporters and had no concerns whatsoever since in my view, they were used appropriately on supporters who deserved to be dispersed due to their behaviour which met the criteria.  This was the only time fans were dispersed all evening and I would hope the same discretion is used for your game on Saturday.

Having said that, I understand supporters concerns.  These powers are relatively new and are yet to be tested in court meaning there is possible scope for misuse. My best advice would be for any supporter who is dispersed is to either film or record the police dispersing them.  It is lawful to film unless the police deem it interfering with their duties so be sensible in how you film or record.  If you don't feel comfortable doing so ask somebody else to.

There is no point in trying to argue or challenge any dispersal notice.  It will not change an officers mind.  Yes, you may be angry and frustrated but just like a referree who gives a player a red card, it won't help and may make matters worse for you.

Breaching the dispersal notice is an arrestable offence.  At the police station it is your right to ask for a solicitor totally independent of the police; they are also free.  Exercise that right even if it means being detained for longer.  Having a solicitor present may make the difference between you being charged or not and will certainly assist you during an interview.

In the unlikely event you are dispersed, contact me on Monday.  On your behalf, I can take expert advice from a solicitor as to whether or not there may be grounds to challenge the actions of the police.  This is where a recording comes in helpful.  The advice will initially be free of charge..."

I hope this is helpful, if you've any further questions, please do let me know.

I hope you have a good day on Saturday.

Best wishes

Amanda

If you live in the dispersal area and had no interest in football but some over eager copper told you to move are you ok to go and stand in your own front garden? Also did the met police use these powers at Wembley for last years playoff final when they knew there would be 40 thousand plus there. If not are the met better organised and confident in there actions than the mersysiders.

Quoted from Gaffer58

If you live in the dispersal area and had no interest in football but some over eager copper told you to move are you ok to go and stand in your own front garden? Also did the met police use these powers at Wembley for last years playoff final when they knew there would be 40 thousand plus there. If not are the met better organised and confident in there actions than the mersysiders.

That was something I was discussing at work with a mate of mine when I showed him what Merseyside Police have planned

Say just by some quirky results on Saturday and in the P/O semis, we have to play Tranmere in the final at Wembley, would the Merseyside force be advising the Met to follow their lead again? :-/

[url=http://www.fsf.org.uk/blog/view/dispersal-orders-what-you-need-to-know]http://www.fsf.org.uk/blog/view/dispersal-orders-what-you-need-to-know[/url]

Quoted from Gaffer58

If you live in the dispersal area and had no interest in football but some over eager copper told you to move are you ok to go and stand in your own front garden? Also did the met police use these powers at Wembley for last years playoff final when they knew there would be 40 thousand plus there. If not are the met better organised and confident in there actions than the mersysiders.

Thats my query. I'm staying at my mums who lives in the dispersal area. If it came to it, Am I meant to stand on the Rock Ferry Bypass till the 12 hours pass?