Raids target soccer thugs

[saturdaysheros]

A DOZEN suspected soccer hooligans were arrested today in a series of dawn raids carried out across the Fylde.
The homes of 12 so-called Blackpool FC supporters were visited by police at just after 7am in a co-ordinated crackdown on football-related violence.
Addresses in central Blackpool, Mereside, South Shore and Lytham were raided.
Together with the arrests, officers seized computer equipment and mobile phones.
Today's dramatic action follows an explosion of violence before and after the Seasiders' February 4 home game with Nottingham Forest.
Police believe the violence had been carefully planned – possibly through internet websites and chat rooms.
They spent weeks studying surveillance video footage and receiving intelligence.
Insp Keith Ogle, football operations manager for Blackpool Police, said: "Today's operation should send out a strong message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.
"Today's action has been backed by the football club and is as a result of a lengthy ongoing investigation. We have used CCTV footage provided by the club and local licensees to assist in our inquiries.
"As well as CCTV, we've been studying websites we believe may have been used to co-ordinate such violence and will now be looking to shut these down."
Yobs fought running battles prior to the February 4 kick-off. An estimated 200 thugs brawled outside The Castle pub, on Central Drive in the afternoon, with tension simmering throughout the evening, sparking numerous fights and incidents.
All those arrested today will be questioned on suspicion of committing violent disorder.
At one property in Troutbeck Crescent, Mereside, a man in his late 20s was led handcuffed into a police van while his computer equipment was seized.
It will now be sent to the computer intelligence unit while he is being questioned. As well as arresting the suspected louts, police today said they would look into imposing football banning orders ahead of the World Cup.
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05 April 2006

[saturdaysheros]

Arrests made over football violence
By Steve Dunthorne
Police have swooped on suspected Blackpool football hooligans after the worst violence at a Seasiders game in years.

Large-scale violence before the game against Nottingham Forest in February saw almost 200 people involved in fights around the Castle pub on Central Drive.

A further 75 fans fought outside the Swift Hound pub, Rigby Road, after the game - both fights are understood to have been instigated by groups from Blackpool.

continued...
Seven people were arrested in raids yesterday in Blackpool and Lytham (Wednesday), and police say they anticipated making further arrests.

Computer equipment was seized and officers are probing links between the fighting and sinister websites which promote hooliganism. One such website has already been removed from the internet.

"Football violence on this scale is almost unheard of in Blackpool," said Insp Keith Ogle, who is leading the investigation for Lancashire Police.

"This has been an isolated incident involving a large number of people who have clearly been intent on causing violence and disorder throughout the day.

"The football club have assured us that they will continue to support our strong stance with regard to football disorder and will ban any Blackpool supporter found to be behaving in an inappropriate manner."

Insp Ogle warned that fans found guilty of football violence would face a football banning order which would bar them from every ground in England and Wales for three years and possibly force them to give up their passport to prevent them travelling to international fixtures.

Police have been investigating video and CCTV recordings since the day of the match on February 4. They say that between 60 and 80 Blackpool supporters and 100 Forest fans fought at The Castle while 50 Blackpool fans and 25 Forest supporters were involved in the Swift Hound incident.

It is understood that the investigation has focused on Blackpool supporters and that no arrests are expected in Nottingham.

Bloomfield Road has a history of violent incidents from the 1970s and 80s, including the murder of local teenager, Kevin Olsson, on the terraces in 1974 and a day of rioting involving Birmingham City fans in 1989.

However, Blackpool has long been considered a relatively safe' ground for visiting fans - although hooligans from other parts of the country have, in the past, arranged fights in the resort.

2:31pm Thursday 6th April 2006

[saturdaysheros]

Five arrested in hooligan raids
Five people have been arrested in raids following a police crackdown against suspected football hooligans.
Lancashire Police also seek seven other suspects after an investigation into violence surrounding the Blackpool v Nottingham Forest match in February.

Several outbreaks of violence took place in pubs and clubs before and after the game.

Computer equipment was also seized in the raids at homes in parts of Blackpool on Wednesday.

Raids' warning

Insp Keith Ogle said the raids were a warning to potential troublemakers.

But he added: "The vast majority of fans behave impeccably and have a good relationship with the police.

"It is very rare we see trouble on this scale."

Computer equipment was also seized in the raids.

Fans' clash

Up to 200 fans clashed at the Castle pub on Central Drive prior to the match on 4 February with fighting spilling out onto the street.

More fights broke out at the Swift Hound pub in Rigby Road after the game with other violence at pubs and clubs in the evening.

Just over a week later there was trouble near Blackpool's Bloomfield Road ground when a brick was thrown at a bus taking Huddersfield Town fans home from a match.

The club recently imposed exclusion orders on two fans.