Free fsf event in london march 4th on policing and stewarding

[FSF]

The Football Supporters’ Federation has assembled an expert panel for a free event for all football supporters next week in London.

'Sit Down, Shut Up; Are Football Supporters Discriminated Against?' is a Question Time-style discussion, involving key figures from the world of football journalism, civil liberties, the police and the legal profession, and is your chance for you to have your say about the way the game is run, and share experiences with other football supporters.

The event is to be held at Brick Lane's Vibe Bar at 7pm on Thursday, 4th March. Registration is free, and all those who come along will get themselves a free pint (or soft drink) on arrival.

The Times' Football Editor Tony Evans is onboard to chair the event, along with Observer columnist and civil liberties campaigner Henry Porter, and representation from the Crown Prosecution Service's national lead on football, Nick Hawkins. They are joined by James Welsh who is the Legal Director of Liberty, Roger Evans, a former match commander at Highbury and current Superintendent of the Met Police, and Spiked online's sports columnist Duleep Allirajah.

For full details, check out the link below, or contact register@fsf.org.uk with any questions.

The Football Supporters' Federation - Sit Down, Shut Up: Are Football Supporters Discriminated Against?

 

[LA1972]

Section 27 will be discussed as this is a law to move on drunks but the police are using it more and more on sober football fans

 

[The FSF]

Section 27 will indeed be discussed as will many other subjects such as are football banning orders always punishments to fit the crime, does it discriminate against us that we cannot drink on coaches when travelling to games, do the police treat us in ways other groups perhaps wouldn't be "just because" we're football supporters?

Hope to see some of you there - any questions, please ask.

Cheers!

Amanda
The Football Supporters' Federation - Informing, Supporting, Campaigning

 

[little al]

I thought it was illegal to drink on any coach regardless.

 

[The FSF]

Little Al

Carriage of passengers to designated Sporting Events

Voluntary Guidelines - England and Wales



PSV operators are reminded of the terms of Section 1 (1) of the Sporting Events (Control of

Alcohol) Act 1985, as amended by the Public Order Act 1986, which prohibits the carriage of

alcohol on a PSV that is being used for the principal purpose of carrying passengers for the whole or

part of a journey to or from a designated sporting event.



A “designated sporting event” generally means any association football match, whether national or

international. The full legal definition of “designated sporting events” may be found in The Sports

Grounds and Sporting Events (Designation Order) 1985, as amended by SI 1520/1987.



It is an offence for an operator of a PSV (or his servant or agent) knowingly to cause or permit the
carriage of alcohol on journeys to which these Regulations apply.



In addition to these statutory provisions, the police have asked that operators comply with the

following guidelines when conveying passengers to such sporting events:



a. Coach operators taking bookings from groups of supporters are to notify the police liaison officer

at the destination, at least 48 hours before the event, of the number of supporters expected to travel

and the number of coaches booked.



b. Coaches are not to stop within 10 miles of the venue either en route to or on departure from the

event unless prior agreement is obtained from the local police liaison officer.



c. Unless directed otherwise by a police officer, coaches may stop at premises where intoxicating

liquor is sold only if it is sold ancillary to a substantial meal. Prior agreement for meal stops where

alcohol is available should be sought from the operator’s local police liaison officer.



d. Coaches are to arrive at the venue no earlier than two hours before and not later than one hour

before the scheduled start of the game, unless otherwise directed by police.



e. Coaches are not to set down or uplift passengers at any unauthorised locations without prior

permission of the police.



f. Coaches must leave the venue within one hour of the finish of the event.



g. Intoxicating liquor must not be carried on coaches travelling to or from designated grounds.

Operators will draw hirers’ attention to the requirements of the law, and drivers shall, as far as

reasonably practical, supervise boarding passengers and check that they are not obviously carrying

intoxicating alcohol. Drivers will not be expected to carry out baggage or body searches, nor will

they be expected to confiscate alcohol or to remove passengers without police assistance.



Operators are asked to comply with these guidelines on a voluntary basis. However if the police

inform the Traffic Commissioner of any failure on an operator’s part to comply with them the



Commissioner will consider applying them as a formal condition to that operator’s licence under the

authority of Section 16(3) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I wonder how many of the "fecking stewards told us to sit down - how dare they" mob will bother to turn up ? Perfect opportunity to fight the sitting down rule !