Room for improvement in policing and stewarding
25th July 2012
Only yesterday Mr Justice Eady passed judgement on matchday policing costs
around Elland Road and today the Football Supporters’ Federation has some Leeds
United-related news too, in the form of a policing and stewarding survey. The
survey was carried
out in conjunction with FSF affiliate Leeds United Supporters’ Trust
(LUST) and completed by almost 1000 fans.
Here at the FSF we don’t really like to single out any one club
unless there’s a specific reason but we can’t ignore the fact that we
get a disproportionate number of complaints about stewarding at Elland
Road from both home and away fans.
West Yorkshire Police (WYP) are not immune from criticism either with fans from
across the country telling us that, when it comes to
policing, experiences at Leeds rated among the worst.
However, this evidence was largely anecdotal and when FSF caseworker
Amanda Jacks visited Elland Road to observe policing and stewarding at
the last game of the 2011-12 season, she had no complaints although she
did observe a lack of interaction between supporters and police.
It was time to stop judging on anecdotal evidence and ask Leeds United
fans what they really think of the policing and stewarding at Elland
Road. A very healthy number responded – 919 in total – and you can read
the full results below. Highlights:
* 32% of fans find the police approachable on a match day;
* Although for certain games, 54% think their presence is excessive;
* 47% of fans think the presence of police means trouble is more likely;
* Three out of four fans think club stewards do a better job than
agency staff.
FSF caseworker Amanda Jacks said: “Both the FSF and LUST were concerned
to see that the results bear out what we’d heard from anecdotal evidence
- more than half of the respondents find stewards unfriendly and rude
with an extremely worrying 46% of them saying they think stewards can be
aggressive.
“We would strongly urge the management at Leeds United to look again at
how fans at Elland Road are stewarded. We hope that the results of the
survey mean that LUST, WYP and LUFC can work together to improve
stewarding and policing to ensure an enjoyable and safe match day for
all.”
Chief superintendant Paul Money, the divisional commander of the area
which covers Elland Road, said: “Policing inside and outside Elland Road
has two primary objectives; to provide a safe environment for the
match-going public and to ensure that disruption to other members of the
public going about their daily business is minimised as much as
possible.
“We welcome the feedback from the survey which in the main is very
supportive of the policing style - an approach intended from the outset
to be low key, fair and friendly. This has been reflected by the
perceptions of a number of respondents.”
The survey also showed that three out of every four fans think club
stewards do a better job than staff hired in from outside agencies with
many describing the latter as ‘bouncers’.
In the words of one fan: “As a former policeman, I would describe the stewards
as bouncers in orange jackets, very, very poor people
management skills and [a] disproportionate approach to minor issues,
they actually suppress the enjoyment and atmosphere at games.”
* Download extended highlights of the survey here...
* Download the full results of the survey here...
LUST will be holding an open meeting at the Magic Sponge
(Soccer City, Lowfields Road, 6pm) after the League Cup tie against
Shrewsbury Town on Saturday 11th August to discuss both policing and
stewarding at Elland Road. Amanda Jacks from the FSF will be in
attendance as will PC Bryn Stokes, local football intelligence officer.
Leeds United were asked to send a representative but have not yet
replied.
If you’re interested in the FSF working with you on a similar project please
contact Amanda Jacks: [email protected].
Thanks to Matthew Wilkinson for the image under CC license.
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PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
