Eyewitness to Police incidents at Brandon Park
Sunday, 28-Feb-99 19:19:02
I am sorry that Jeremy had that perception of events. Like him I was there with my two teenage children, but we were actually with the large group of Spirit supporters he refers to.
1. We do have a small group of fans whose verbal chants go over into abusive language. The other fans need to tell them they are not wanted if they continue. Many in the group were trying to do this.
2. Generally speaking though the group of Spirit fans took up a location well away from other fans, and were doing no harm to anyone.
3. At half-time whilst most of us were standing around talking two police took it upon themselves to approach an individual to ask him to stop using offensive language. I was about a metre away, and had not heard him make any sound audible at that distance. He apprantly asked what the police considered offensive language. Police apparently took him away because he used the word 'testicle' as an example for the policeman. The police in no way tried to talk to the larger group to ask for cooperation, they just started targetting and hauling off indviduals. This is very poor policing practice.
3. Police continued to incite problems within the otherwise docile crowd by moving among it picking out individuals, some quite innocent bystanders.
4. Police when legimitely asked, refused to quote their badge no and station.
5. Police used batons and capsicum spray in inappropriate surroundings.
6. A smoke canister (not a flare) was set of by an individual whom nobody recognised. This was thrown onto the field by another (well away from the children) so that the choking smoke did no harm to the crowd (including my children - thanks!)
7. A scuffle broke out away from the crowd when some fans decided they didn't want to be arrested. No impediment was placed on the police by the crowd. (In fact one guy tried to tackle one of the idiots)
8. The high speed arrival of a number of additional police vehicles at the gound was dangerous, and very provocative.
9. There was absolutley no trouble between fans, only between police and fans. No police - no trouble!
10. No approach was made by security, or by the ground staff, or by either club officials to the fans to curb their language.
Generally an unfortunate incident, sparked by a few fans being idiots and a couple of police being equally idiotic.
The clear message from fans was when we sang " we're only here for the football!"