Nottinghamshire Police

Was nobody else miffed by their shoddy handling of the situation prematch?

I arrived from Skegness to Mansfield around 10:20. I asked to leave the station which was a no, then to go to the toilet (I genuinely needed to go having left my home at 6:45) - also a no. I was told in uncertain terms to go and join the other Town fans herded up down the platform. I then thought, I'll hang back, as I was alone, and try and go into town when everyone else has been taken away so to speak. No. The police officer who I tried to plead with said "all Grimsby fans are idiots" which I denied, he responded with "it only takes a minority to cause a lot of trouble". We arrived at a closed ground having to stand in a retail car park for 10-20 minutes until they opened it. Terrible policing - antagonised everyone, treated like a presumed criminal, no civil liberties - absolutely pathetic. Really spoilt my day.

I tweeted the FSF to which, disappointingly, I had no reply.

Although I didn't travel by train I had no issue with stewards or police on the day.

Quoted from Paris Mariner

Was nobody else miffed by their shoddy handling of the situation prematch?

I arrived from Skegness to Mansfield around 10:20. I asked to leave the station which was a no, then to go to the toilet (I genuinely needed to go having left my home at 6:45) - also a no. I was told in uncertain terms to go and join the other Town fans herded up down the platform. I then thought, I'll hang back, as I was alone, and try and go into town when everyone else has been taken away so to speak. No. The police officer who I tried to plead with said "all Grimsby fans are idiots" which I denied, he responded with "it only takes a minority to cause a lot of trouble". We arrived at a closed ground having to stand in a retail car park for 10-20 minutes until they opened it. Terrible policing - antagonised everyone, treated like a presumed criminal, no civil liberties - absolutely pathetic. Really spoilt my day.

I tweeted the FSF to which, disappointingly, I had no reply.

Tweet it to Nottinghamshire police's account , I doubt anything will come of it but at least it'll embarrass the arseholes thats as long as they don't delete it

Unfortunately for you just a few weeks ago we were also on their patch and that minority they referred to ran around the local area seeking trouble..they also travelled by train that day.....only going to be one outcome from that, hence the fairly large police presence and the several film crews fixed on the crowds before during and after.

Their primary concern is keeping law and order...when i arrived yesterday and walked to the ground they had also done the same with their little element and had them closely under escort.

I found the officers I met after the Notts County game to be courteous and pleasant, though I don't think the issues are confined to that particular force.

Policing at the Luton game was a tad over the top, and there was some poor communication after the game on the subject of the courtesy-bus to the station, which I don't think was down to malice from individual officers, but an institutional suspicion of football supporters across the country.  I recommend you all fill in the FSF Away fans' survey and give special mention to policing as the FSF are focusing on this a lot at the moment.

We see the same thing in the attitudes towards supporters travelling by train or coach, in treating games as pubic order flashpoints rather than sporting events and in a high-handed communication style that looks more like the giving of orders rather than a dialogue.

I hope the Trust and their SLO can seek to open a dialogue with Police Forces for upcoming games to educate them about our fanbase and flag where there have been previous problems so they can be eliminated by good planning.  It would probably be wise to start planning already for Doncaster, since South Yorkshire Police have a poor track record and may have preconceptions about our fans based on pre-season and intel from Notts Police.  Also, we'll likely be bringing 3,000 so don't want a situation where police overkill ruins the day for the vast majority by imposing heavy-handed kettling on trains, escorted route-marches, hooli-buses and city centre lockdowns.

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

I found the officers I met after the Notts County game to be courteous and pleasant, though I don't think the issues are confined to that particular force.

Policing at the Luton game was a tad over the top, and there was some poor communication after the game on the subject of the courtesy-bus to the station, which I don't think was down to malice from individual officers, but an institutional suspicion of football supporters across the country.  I recommend you all fill in the FSF Away fans' survey and give special mention to policing as the FSF are focusing on this a lot at the moment.

We see the same thing in the attitudes towards supporters travelling by train or coach, in treating games as pubic order flashpoints rather than sporting events and in a high-handed communication style that looks more like the giving of orders rather than a dialogue.

I hope the Trust and their SLO can seek to open a dialogue with Police Forces for upcoming games to educate them about our fanbase and flag where there have been previous problems so they can be eliminated by good planning.  It would probably be wise to start planning already for Doncaster, since South Yorkshire Police have a poor track record and may have preconceptions about our fans based on pre-season and intel from Notts Police.  Also, we'll likely be bringing 3,000 so don't want a situation where police overkill ruins the day for the vast majority by imposing heavy-handed kettling on trains, escorted route-marches, hooli-buses and city centre lockdowns.

Just reading about the Wrexham Chester game which was a "bubble match" this weekend....apparently the only bubble fixture still in existence.....sounds like it completely killed the fixture for supporters and police are now considering removing the classification.

Our experience was very different.  We said how friendly they were and had a good sense of humour.  Clearly the Police at the train station were different.

Police at Notts County were brilliant from my experience. Asked two constables and a sergeant where the nearest Town pub was and they answered in a civil manner and wished us well for the day.

Seemed a completely different atmosphere at Mansfield - one of our party had the contents of his sandwich searched! They gave the "we have intelligence" spiel as the reason. It seems as though the Mansfield FLO isn't well liked by their fanbase much.

Was there even any "trouble" other than their firm of five telling the Town fans that they'd be/been running in the ground? Seemed like total overkill that will no doubt been seen as a success for Notts Police.

The best account to tweet over any issues over the weekend is FSF_Faircop.

The GTFC SLO is in constant contact with FSF over Saturday and going forward over various matters.

Stewards were all well mannered yesterday and had no problems. All the police were well mannered other than two males who were stood on the stairs after the second half and were very unhelpful. I don't expect to be treat like royalty however some manners wouldn't go a miss especially when you try explaining that I can't sit in my allocated seat as when I stand I was obstructing other people's views and when I sit I couldn't see the game for myself. Instead of trying to help he threatened to eject me from the stadium if I didn't get to my seat. Luckily the stewards were more helpful and found me a seat.