Police arrest 11 during Saints - Pompey clash
Policing of Pompey's FA Cup clash against Southampton has been hailed a success.
More than 260 police - including officers from Hampshire Constabulary, eight mounted police from Thames Valley and British Transport Police officers - were involved in Operation Austen today.
In total 11 arrests have been made so far. These included an 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old man - both of whom are Pompey fans - who were arrested in connection with throwing fireworks before the game.
Officers dealt with a number of pockets of violence including the massive stand-off between rival fans outisde the stadium in Britannia Road following Pompey's 4-1 win.
Thames Valley police horses and Hampshire Constabulary officers managed to keep the supporters apart and move them on.
They also escorted hundreds of Pompey fans to Southampton Central Railway Station where special trains were laid on to take them home.
Chief superintendent Matthew Greening, Southampton's police commander, said: 'We planned our police operation very carefully, and public safety was our emphasis.
'We are very pleased with how it went. We have successfully dealt with a number of incidents ably assisted by the Thames Valley Police horses and our colleagues from British Transport Police.
'It is very disappointing that a small number of irresponsible fans were determined to make trouble. However they were dealt with swiftly and professionally by our officers. However the majority of fans behaved fantastically and had a good day out even if for some the result wouldn't have been what they wanted.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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