All fans banned for Gillingham v Swindon

[GulldenBoy]

Been announced by Medway council that fans are banned for the Gillingham v Swindon game on the 21 April:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17678341" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Surely they can sort this out! Swindon fans won't be best pleased if it's the game that promotes them.

[MidDevon]

This has all happened before at Gillingham

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Gillingham- ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was told by a Gills fan that the kent police throw their toys out of the pram every so often, because they are so stressed at all the cuts that they cannot cope at the moment, so look around for the first people to blame all the time, and obviously a football club is a sitting duck...bless

....also and not always known is that these two clubs (Swindon and Gillingham) really do not like each other going back 30 to 40 years

[gullintwoplaces]

I have said on other topics that the police are looking to pass on the impact of their funding reductions to easy targets. Football clubs need to watch out. I take the view that the police are funded to look after ALL ACTIVITIES in what society considers to be "normal life". This must include sports events. If they have cuts then they need to look at cutting back office functions, streamlining their top heavy management. and cutting out wasteful spending. Streamlining their costly equality & diversity departments might be a good first stage.

[MidDevon]

I do not want to make this a political thread as I have no strong politic leanings, but I would say that police on the whole could not give a hoot about the service they provide, what they are ACTUALLY annoyed about is the pay freeze, I wish they would just come out and say it.

When the country was spending like my good lady does , the police budget increased year on year and almost the entire lot went on extra staff and extra pay, increased hourly overtime and increased holiday allowances, that is a fact no-one can argue against.

Now whilst I have no argument against good police getting pay rises for great performance, I do have a strong believe that public sector workers should only be given pay rises on performance, not just allowed to have centrally controlled pay increases, because the senior police officers are not good enough managers (or perhaps are not allowed) to manage poor performers out.

[united09]

I can only see this becoming more of an issue around the lower leagues after seeing this a couple of days ago.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17660363" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Totally agree with MidDevon. Reading the link I can't see how the clubs should be totally to blame with most games being played on a Saturday, when most people are off work anyway. Adding the factor that there is normally an evening kick off being shown on Sky. Your naturally going to get people in the pubs around the ground and in the town centres!

[ferrarilover]

Does this not sound like a scam?

Gillingham HAVE to have police there and they HAVE to pay for it. You cannot demand that someone does something then demand that they pay for it. If the police are so insistent upon being there, then they must cover the cost.

The other answer is to ask why Gillingham must pay extra anyway? Gillingham FC pays an inordinate sum of tax over a year, the police are paid by central government who are funded by tax, why the extra levy? That's like paying national insurance then having to pay for medicines on prescription... Oh wait...

Matt.

[cambgull]

And don't forget all the fans pay tax too...

[Glostergull]

It's been reported on Points West tonight that the issues involving Bills for Policing have been resolved.

[cambgull]

It's been reported on Points West tonight that the issues involving Bills for Policing have been resolved.

They were quackers to ask for that kind of money...

[Richinns]

They were quackers to ask for that kind of money...

If you have not already got your coat - may I suggest you do!!

[Glostergull]

Well he may have come up with a joke about it but not the one I intended by underlining Bills. After all it was for the old Bill. Never mind. I'd better get my coat too.