Metal wall will keep fans apart on derby day
portable metal wall that will be used by Hampshire Constabulary on December 18, during the match between Portsmouth and Saints. Pic shows the wall at Alverstone Road during a recent trial run.
HUGE metal walls will be put up for Pompey’s home game against Southampton to keep fans apart.
Police are using the 8ft tall blocks at major junctions.
They will be moved into locations in Vernon Avenue, Alverstone Road and Specks Lane in Fratton.
PC Barney Hockley said: ‘There’s no view through these, so people can’t get face-to-face with each other. Once they are in place they’re pretty immovable.’
Officers are also warning the public to stay away from the Eastern Road area of Portsmouth on the day of the match. Up to 50 coaches packed with fans will be heading in a convoy to Portsmouth for the game, which kicks off at 1pm on December 18.
All Saints fans who want to see the game must be on the official coaches from Southampton, Winchester or Bursledon, or they will not be allowed into Fratton Park.
And they will be under heavy police escort for the entire trip – allowing officers to clear the road ahead of them as they enter the city in a bid to avoid trouble.
A marked police car will stop traffic at the top of Eastern Road to make way for the convoy.
At a final briefing about security at the game, Superintendent Rick Burrows, who is heading the operation, said: ‘The whole focus will be on getting those convoys down to the ground safely.
‘We want to do everything we can to encourage the public to use alternative routes into the city that day and stay away from Eastern Road.
‘It’s also the last proper shopping weekend before Christmas, so the roads will be busy anyway.’
PC Mick Brown, Portsmouth football liaison officer, added: ‘Everything leading towards Portsmouth will have signs up from the week before saying there will be extra pressure on Eastern Road on that day.’
Marked police cars will also be on every bridge over the M27 between the cities.
The deadline for Saints fans to buy tickets for the game passed late last night, but yesterday there were several hundred of the 3,200 allocation still on sale.
Mark Long, safety officer for Saints, said many fans had been put off by the travel arrangements.
Southampton FC will also be sending 50 stewards along to help control fans.
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Comments
There are 35 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Graham Wheatley
Friday, December 2, 2011 at 03:57 AMI acknowledge that for many people, football is not just a passion but a way of life. Some of us don't share that passion. Looking at a lot of the preceding comments and the quotes from Superintendent Burrows, I for one am mightily glad that the super-stadium was never built at The Hard! The logical place for PFC's stadium is OFF Portsea Island, not at the terminus for all transport links, nor slap-bang in the middle of one of the most densely populated pieces of land in Western Europe; one that has water on three sides and consequently with limited access routes - and we're closing one-off (the Eastern Road) for a significant part of the busiest - the last - shopping Saturday before Christmas??!! --- No pun intended, but in the current economic climate, that might very well turn out to be a bit of an own-goal for the city in general.
gcpfc
Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 06:00 PMI recall a previous home game where the police seriously overreacted to justify their overtime payments.I saw one elderly chap have his shins smashed by a police truncheon for stepping in front of a policeman, another had a police dog set upon him for no reason at all. It really is a worry. I for one will still attend the game , as I do all home games, but would suggest caution not regarding the Sc*mmers but with regards to our over zealous police.
Skimmers73
Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 11:49 AMNo-one is Illegal.
patrioticfrompompey
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 07:34 PMHAMPSHIRE POLICE CAN ERECT METAL WALL FOR A 90 MINUTE FOOTBALL MATCH..........ITS A SHAME THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T ADOPT A SIMILAR "METAL WALL" AT ALL THE PORTS OF ENTRY OF OUR (WELL IT USED TO BE) COUNTRY. THIS WOULD HELP TO STOP THE ILLEGALS AND THE UNWANTED VISITORS TO THIS COUNTRY
The Imposter
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 03:46 PMActually you're wrong, there were no arrests made inside the ground. Those arrested were outside the ground who were "fence rattling" at old women and kids. And at no point have I said I will be participating in any form of violence as I abhorr it. It settles nothing but some will see it as a means of retribution.
Sir JJ
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 02:50 PM@post 29. Who cares that they threw coins at the Pompey supporters! Aren't you grown up enough to know that two wrongs don't make a right. Those idiot were caught by the police and dealt with appropriately, why risk getting a criminal record, a banning order and the possibility of losing your job because someone who lives 20 miles down the road supports a different team.
The Imposter
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 02:20 PMSirJJ They put up a steel wall at the Fairies but it didnt stop them showering us with coins. Oh how I wished I'd picked them all up now. Some may see this as payback time. Not that I would ever advocate any form of violence.
Scumstomper.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 02:19 PMComment removed by moderator
southseabeach
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 01:48 PMWell said JJ! True football fans will have nothing to do with the moronic behaviour of a very small minority. If you intend to get involved with any trouble with the opposition fans then you are not a fan and are not welcome at Fratton Park. It is only a game! Very few of the players are actually from Portsmouth or Southampton......to them its just another,hopefully classic, football game. Southampton are having a great season, but under our new manager we can surprise them. PUP
hammie
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 01:24 PMwhy have they not just said no away fans and laid on big screens at the away team's home ground. I have been to hundreds of games (including away at the dell and st mary's) Also been prevented form travelling to millwall etc. A football match is not worth al this wastede money, especially at the present time!
Sir JJ
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 01:22 PMThe rivalry is in the past, this is the 21st century, people need to move on. My 10 year daughter was in Southampton General hospital 2 weeks ago in the Paediatric intensive care unit. The doctors and nurses, some of who supports the saints saved my daughters life. Why should anyone dislike them because of where they live or the team they support. I say live and let live but some on the imbeciles from both sets of supporters that goad each other on this site is unbelievably childish.
Removed by Moderator
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 01:20 PMwhy the hell have we given the 3200 tickets !!! they will only give us half of that !!pompey once again making our selves look rediculaus !
grammarschoolboy
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 01:07 PMPOLICE VANS,METAL BARRICADES,HATRED,NO HOPE IN 2011. All this equation means is TROUBLE with a capital T. Pompey lose 10 points in the division because a Rusky has his hand in the till. The club is run by outsiders who know nothing of the passion real Pompey fans feel for their team and city.By the time this fixture comes around there will be gangs coming out of the woodwork to attack the Scummers. WISE UP YOU PEOPLE WHO READ THIS COLUMN. This is not just another game of football.This is POMPEY and "THEM" and no amount of barriers will stop what's going to happen.They have 3,200 tickets allocated to them and they still have 700 to sell.They are obviously not as stupid as we all thought.I'll be in my shed with a blanket over my head.
APF5
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 11:15 AMI love the rivalry but am also sensible enough to keep things in perspective. Now please excuse me I'm off to buy a disc-cutter
Sir JJ
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 10:54 AMWhy can't people grow up? Who cares If someone lives in Southampton or in Pompey? The only people who wants violence aren't true football fans, they're pathetic idiots who need to get a life. IT'S A GAME OF FOOTBALL. We need to concentrate on supporting the club in it's hour of need. I've been supporting Pompey since the 70's, all I'm interested in is the club and the results, not rivalry.
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