Crime
15 sought by police after crowd disorder at Posh derby
Police released CCTV images of 15 people they want to question about crowd disturbances at a home derby between Peterborough United and Cambridge United.
The faces were among the 12,766 crowd at London Road, Peterborough, for the match on October 29.
Police say they continue to “investigate disorder” surrounding the game.
A police spokesperson said: “An investigation was launched after the match, which took place on 29 October, following criminal damage, disorder and violence.”
The faces were among the 12,766 crowd at London Road, Peterborough, for the match on October 29.
Detective Sergeant Shish Thind, who is leading the investigation, said: “The majority of Cambridge United and Peterborough United supporters behaved responsibly at the match.
“However, there were a small number of fans who chose to behave in a wholly unacceptable way, and this behaviour has been condemned by both clubs.
“As part of our post-match investigation, so far, we have made 16 arrests and interviewed an additional nine people, which is increasing week-on-week.
“We have also secured a banning order against one fan who will now not be able to attend any football match for the next three years.
“Some people have done the right thing and come forward to us, knowing their behaviour was unacceptable that day, while others have been identified by our officers and the clubs. I would urge anyone who recognises any of the men in the images to get in touch.”
The faces were among the 12,766 crowd at London Road, Peterborough, for the match on October 29.
Anyone with information should contact police and quote Operation Rookery.
This can be done online using the web chat service, by calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111 or reporting online.
Earlier this week it was revealed that a Wisbech man has been given a three-year ban from attending any football stadium in the UK.
This result is the first conviction to come as part of a post-match investigation which was launched by Cambridgeshire Police, with the support of both clubs, to act against anyone identified as committing criminal offences.
Trevor Johnson, 45, was initially arrested outside Asda in Rivergate after the game which began at 3pm on Saturday October 29.
He was part of a group which ran across the car park towards a group of Cambridge fans, goading them into fighting.
Police intervened, however Johnson began shouting expletives at officers and became aggressive, before walking into a moving vehicle, resulting in his arrest for being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
Due to a large amount of disorder surrounding the game, an investigation was launched, and Johnson was arrested for a second time on 11 November.
CCTV and body-cam footage showed Johnson gesturing towards away supporters during the game and being part of the disorder as fans left the Weston Homes Stadium in London Road, Peterborough.
Police intervened after disorder broke out between the two sides, with Johnson turning on his fellow Posh supporters, pushing another fan and squaring up to police.
Johnson was seen to lead a group to charge forward in an attempt to break through the police lines.
Johnson, of Parson Drove, Wisbech, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on November 30 where he admitted a section 4 public order offence – namely using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order – having to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work, must pay £199 in costs and is subject of a three-year Football Banning Order (FBO).
The order specifies:
- In the United Kingdom, he is banned from entering any premises for the purpose of attending a football match
- Outside the United Kingdom, he must report to a police station according to instructions that will be notified to the defendant by the Football Banning Orders Authority
- The defendant must surrender any travel authorisation document (passport, identity card, or any other form of travel authorisation) in the defendant’s name according to instructions notified by the Football Banning Orders Authority
- To not go within a specified area of any regulated football match involving Peterborough United, played at Weston Homes Stadium, London Road, between four hours preceding the advertised kick-off time and three hours after the conclusion of the match
- When Peterborough United are playing an away fixture, to not go within a two-mile radius of the stadium where the game is taking place, between six hours preceding the advertised kick-off time and three hours after the conclusion of the match
