Page 12 - Federation magazine: October / November 2016

Fed acts over televised
football matches
Chief officers have been forced to
cancel officers’ rest days to provide marred this derby in the past. This request increased,” says Tom.
an adequate police presence at a was made to the Football League and, to “This situation is very obviously not at all
satisfy TV companies, it requested that the good news for our members, taking into

local football derby which was re-arranged fixture be moved to 8pm on Monday 31 account other events such as Operation

to suit a TV company’s schedules. October. Pelkin and the ongoing WMP2020 TS1

But West Midlands Police Federation, Tom explains: “Representation was programme. However, the criteria of

which has already taken up the issue with made to prevent this fixture being allowed ‘exigency of duty’ has been met and other

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale and to take place on an evening due to the options were considered by the Force,

Force Operations, says this should not be potential for serious disorder exacerbated however, due to the number of PSUs required

allowed to happen again and the matter is by it being a late kick-off with greater and ‘back-filling’ requirements they had no

being raised with the National Police Chiefs’ opportunity for alcohol to play a part. The alternative other than to cancel rest days for

Council. Football League took on board the Force’s this match.”

“I fully appreciate it will not change the representations and, as such, the fixture Tom has written to the ACC, on behalf of

‘here and now’ for this particular fixture but was provisionally set for Sunday 30 October members, highlighting his concerns around

my honest opinion, in these very challenging at 1200hrs pending agreement with Sky this issue and the lack of consideration by

times for all in policing, is that media and Sports.” media companies for the wider impact of

professional sporting bodies need to be On Wednesday 10 August, the Force policing televised football matches

more accountable, not only for their selected received formal confirmation from the particularly in relation to the detrimental

audiences but also for the benefit of all. league that, after consulting Sky Sports, the effect on police officers and their families but

From my selfish point of view, appropriate fixture would go ahead at 12 noon on also the wider communities who will see

decision-makers at this level need to fully Sunday 30 October. officers drawn away from their local policing

realise the impact these type of events have “Due to this decision taken by the areas.

on our extremely hard-working members,” Football League and Sky Sports and the date Mr Beale has in turn raised concerns with

says Tom Cuddeford, interim chairman of it was taken, also being outside the Force’s ACC Mark Roberts of Cheshire Police who is

West Midlands Police Federation. control, it does fall under the ‘exigency of the National Police Chiefs’ Council football

“Locally also, with the full support of the duty’ remit. This is also aggravated by the lead and liaises with the TV companies and

Force, I will be meeting with Force Ops fact that it is the end of the half term the football authorities at a national level

imminently to review all football fixtures holiday and also Hallowe’en weekend, while Tom has also referred the issue to

here in the West Midlands to try to find meaning that there will already be many national Police Federation chairman Steve
“solutions to minimise disruption of similar
officers on leave and demand is likely to be White who has agreed to take up the matter.
high profile matches for the benefit of our
members.” Locally also, with the full support of the
Rest days have been cancelled for the Force, I will be meeting with Force Ops
Birmingham City v Aston Villa match on 30 imminently to review all football fixtures
October, even though the fixture was here in the West Midlands to try to find
originally scheduled for Saturday 29 October, “
as published in June this year, and therefore
would not normally have triggered an
exigency of duty. solutions to minimise disruption of similar
It was agreed, at the end of June
high profile matches for the benefit of our
following a meeting between Force Ops and members.
both football clubs, that kick-off should be
no later than 1pm on a Sunday due to

concerns about public order which has

12 federation October/November 2016 www.westmidspolfed.com