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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Police Vicinity Costs at Edgar Street

Below is a flavour of the BBC Hereford and Worcester item on Vicinity Policing around Edgar Street broadcast this morning.

Firstly sports reporter Dave Bradley spoke about the background.

"Bulls News made a freedom of information request to the police asking about the charges they made. This season Hereford United have been charged over £23,000, Shrewsbury Town will pay only a fraction of that, similar sort of club, £1,356. Worcester Warriors have paid £3,648. Why the difference you might ask?

"The police have previously told us they decide on the area around the club that needs to be patrolled in consultation with the club and then charge accordingly.

Then a few words from Chris Powis, a contributer to Bulls News, who said this large difference in charges is exactly what the club doesn't need.

"When you consider what Hereford United have gone through over the last ten or twelve years, to have them treated in this way does seem very unfair.

"If it carries on as it stands it's going to be a huge problem financially to the club. And football at the moment is in a poor state anyway."

H&W Hereford editor James Mcdonald then spoke about the numbers of police at Hereford games.

"We've asked West Mercia Police how many officers they've sent to Hereford United games. They wouldn't disclose that under the Freedom of Information Act. They said it was an operationally sensitive number and they couldn't tell us."

Mcdonald went on to say that he had counted 25 officers at the Oldham game a week last Saturday.

"They made four arrests. Three of them Oldham fans and one local man - a streaker who was cautioned."

Mcdonald also went to Edgar Street last night and spoke to supporters before the start of the Millwall match.

"A club like this at this level every penny counts."

"It's very difficult. When you see the likes of Shrewsbury getting charged £1,300 and we are being charged £23,500. And they get bigger crowds than us."

"There are a lot of other clubs that haven't got the nerve that Graham Turner has. He's done marvels with our finances. So why should he give money away?"

At the end of the item presenter Howard Bentham asked Bradley what the police and the football club were actually saying.

"Not a lot to be honest. Despite several calls to Edgar Street, Graham Turner has not been able to speak to us for some weeks. He has previously said he believes they are the only club in the country being asked to pay these so-called vicinity charges and he's going to challenge that," said Bradley.

"And the police declined to talk on air this morning. They have given us a one line statement saying they are still considering their position on the matter and they will be discussing it with other forces."