Probe reveals rise in football violence arrests - 15/07/2009Source : chroniclelive.co.uk
FOOBALL violence has soared over the last year, as organised hooliganism made a comeback.
A Chronicle probe reveals nearly twice as many people were arrested at Toon home and away games, compared to the previous season.
Louts were arrested for offences ranging from brawling and missile throwing to pitch running and racist chanting during United’s doomed campaign.
And the number of thugs banned from the sport has nearly tripled in just 12 months on the back of a string of large-scale dust-ups involving so-called Magpies fans.
Police say Newcastle’s hooligan element – dubbed the Gremlins – became increasingly active during the course of last season, coordinating organised scraps with rival firms.
But they have hit back, targeting known troublemakers and arresting anyone seen stepping out of line before, during and after games.
Officers today issued a warning to fans thinking of causing bother during the Toon’s maiden Championship campaign they will crack down hard on them and continue their policy of seeking stadium bans where necessary.
Sgt Glenn Patterson, of Northumbria Police’s football intelligence unit, said: “The rise in arrests is partly down to the behaviour of fans but also down to the proactive stance we are now taking to crack down on any form of disorder at football matches.
“As well as making arrests on the day of games, we also study CCTV footage after the event and look to arrest anyone we can identify engaging in violence or disorder, using media appeals where necessary.
“There has been a increase in activity among risk supporters over the last year and we have addressed that through the targeted, proactive use of banning orders aimed at those we suspect will be involved in organised football violence.”
Figures accessed by the Chronicle reveal there were 79 arrests at Newcastle home games last season, compared to 38 the year before, with 78 away from home, which was up from 49 in 2007/08. In 2005/06, there were just 26 arrests at St James’s Park and 30 at away grounds.
Football banning orders can be slapped on supporters convicted of offences at matches or immediately before or after games. Alternatively, officers can build stand-alone cases against so-called “risk supporters” who they believe are involved in organised disorder.
Our figures also reveal there are now 82 Newcastle followers with football banning orders, most of which have conditions banning them from city centre for four hours before and after games, as well as stopping them following the Toon home or away. That is up from 29 in 2007/08 and 16 five years ago.
Last season saw the re-emergence of organised violence involving Newcastle’s hooligan element, including a dust-up with hardcore thugs from the Stoke City Firm.
The clash, on December 6 2008, resulted in a brawl on Wrekenton High Street which left locals terrified. Dozens of police officers and 25 vehicles were drafted in to contain the disorder after troubled flared in the Stormont Main working men’s club.
It then moved on to the Seven Sisters pub, on the high street, as a police helicopter also hovered above taking surveillance pictures and relaying information to officers on the ground.
And when Newcastle played Chelsea in the Premier League, Glasgow Rangers-supporting hooligans, who have an affiliation with the London side, travelled down to fight with a local mob.
Football intelligence officers on Tyneside were contacted by the British Transport Police to say between 20-30 Rangers fans were heading to the city.
A team was deployed to Central Station in a bid to prevent them hooking-up with hooligan gangs ahead of the fixture.
The Rangers group safely arrived in the Chelsea end for the game, which the Londoners won 2-0, and there was no disorder before or during the match.
But a couple of hours after the final whistle, reports were received of fighting in and around Central Station, involving Rangers, Chelsea and United followers.
Witnesses said people had been injured, but when police arrived no-one would make a complaint.
Newcastle’s season ended in relegation and Northumbria Police has already prepared for the club and its supporters visiting a new set of towns and grounds.
Sgt Patterson said: “Just because the season is over, it does not mean it is the end of business for us. It is a 365 day a year job for us.
“During the close season, we review CCTV and other intelligence gathered during the season and are always looking to improve the way we police football.
“In terms of next season, we have already had discussions with every away team and the relevant police force and there will be a Northumbria Police presence at every match.
“We understand football is an exciting game and emotions run high but there is a line we can’t let people cross. We have a duty to allow the law-abiding football-supporting public to enjoy the game.”
FOOTBALL violence has been glamorised in books and films for years.
Movies such as The Football Factory, ID, Rise of the Footsoldier and Green Street have been big box office hits.
And several terrace terrors have even made a name for themselves in the literary world. One of them, Cass Pennant, wrote his autobiography after ending up in jail.
The West Ham fan was part of the infamous hooligan gang ICF (Inter City Firm). His experiences even made the big screen last year as Cass was released.
As the films keep coming thick and fast, with all-star casts, many fear it is encouraging many to pursue organised violence.
But Dr Joan Harvey, a senior lecturer in psychology at Newcastle University, believes hooligan films are no worse than other violent movies.
She said: "People who resort to violence will glamourise any violent film. Reservoir Dogs would appeal to these people just as much.
"People these days can make their own films just by using a mobile phone and posting footage of fighting on the internet. Not on Facebook or Youtube, but their own sites.
"These are not just 18-year-olds, but older men, some in quite decent jobs. I wouldn’t call them fans, these people like the tribal nature.
"They become a member of a tribe so they can organise fights with other tribes, in this case football clubs.
"They will try to goad other people into these fights as if they were fighting for the club.
"I don’t think there has been an increase in the actual number of thugs. I would expect more arrests for being drunk and disorderly last season with the misery of relegation and supporters drowning their sorrows, but the increase is probably down to police taking a more active stance against violence."
THE NUMBER of football banning orders on North East hooligans has nearly tripled in a year.
Soccer yobs have been hit with bans for a number of reasons, ranging from invading the pitch and throwing missiles to racist chanting and being linked to organised hooligan gangs.
They include known "risk supporter" Paul Peet, who has been spotted several times with notorious Newcastle United yobs, many of whom he was seen with on the traffic island near Newcastle’s Union Rooms during the Newcastle-Hull game last September.
Peet, 49, of Frankland Road, Durham, was also seen in a group causing disorder after the Tyne Wear derby at St James’s Park in April 2007.
In October 2003, he had been involved in a violent clash which saw 87 arrested by Dutch police before the team’s match at Breda in 2003.
The thug who got the longest ban last season was Raymond Etchells, 34, of Dunston Tower, Gateshead, who was seen pushing an industrial-sized wheelie bin into the police line, before picking up a table from outside the Lounge bar and nightclub, on Neville Street, and throwing it at police.
He was convicted of affray in relation to the offence, which took place after the same April 2007 derby.
He was jailed for three months and given a six-year football banning order.
And 10 Magpies louts were banned for their part in a large- scale brawl during a United pre- season friendly at Carlisle, which terrified families in a city centre bar.
Glasses and chairs were thrown and blows exchanged, while children cowered under the tables of the Pippins pub during the fight, all of which was captured on CCTV.
The gang were Richard Carter, 37, of Sidney Terrace, Tanfield Lea, Durham, who appeared, along with nephew Graeme Carter, 25, of Northlea, also Tanfield Lea.
Also involved was Mark Barrett, 32, of Litchfield Crescent, Winlaton Gateshead. John Wood, 24, of Broadoak, Wardley, Gateshead, and James Mullarky, 24, of Hall Terrace, Bill Quay, also Gateshead.
They were joined in the dock at Carlisle Crown Court by Trevor Reed, 43, of Fairhills Road, Dipton, County Durham, and Raymond Galbraith, 34, of Broadpark, Wardley.
The final three were Rob Dixon, 25, of Parkside, Tanfield Lea, Simon Chollerton, 38, of High Street, Tow Law, County Durham, and Anthony Hamilton, 34, of St Julien Gardens, Cochrane Park, Newcastle. All admitted affray and got bans.
Yesterday at 8:07 pm by UFW Maltchickers
