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Police investigate Port Vale v Oldham trouble with arrests made after fights and flares

Police are to investigate the trouble that played out at Port Vale v Oldham with arrests made after fights and flares were set off.

A 22 year old man from Stoke-on-Trent was detained following disorder at the League Two match at Vale Park which ended in a 3-2 home win earlier this month.

Police have confirmed the suspect was released on conditional bail after being held on suspicion of using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence, assault by beating of an emergency worker and resisting a constable in the execution of their duty.

Around 30 police officers and PSCOs escorted 100 travelling supporters for 1.3 miles along Newcastle Street in Burslem to Longport Station to avoid any further disorder following the game. The procession temporarily caused traffic mayhem in Burslem with Vale fans struggling to leave the ground.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “The investigation into the disorder which occurred after the recent fixture is on-going. Fans who had travelled by train were escorted by officers to Longport railway station to prevent any further issues.

“A 22-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested. He has been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.”

Weeks later, on Thursday 22nd April, a club statement was issued: “Port Vale Football Club are working with Staffordshire Police to investigate a number of disturbances which took place both before and after the Oldham Athletic match at home on Saturday 9 April.

Police attended Hamil Road and Burslem town centre where a number of people were involved in public order offences, officer assaults and the setting off of flares, as well as anti-social behaviour.

Following the game, one man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer and resisting arrest.

Officers are continuing to work to in partnership with the football club to identify those responsible for the disorder.

Superintendent Gemma Ward, Head of Force Operations, said: “Staffordshire Police and PVFC are committed to ensuring that match days at Vale Park remain safe and enjoyable events for genuine supporters and families.

“Anyone seeking to ruin this will be firmly dealt with – such actions have no place in our local community.”

A spokesman for Port Vale FC confirmed that the club will not tolerate such irresponsible behaviour and remains committed to taking the strongest possible action against anyone found guilty of being involved in criminal activities – including barring individuals from future games.

Anyone who witnessed the disorder who may have relevant photographs and video footage is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on Facebook, Twitter, or call 101, quoting incident number 347 of 6 April.

Twitter users gave their reaction as police investigate the Port Vale v Oldham trouble with arrests made after fights and flares…

@Bob22066552: There will be no consequence or criticism of the police response on that day. This is guaranteed.

@Tommy_Bostock: The stewards didn’t help causes. One asked me to empty my pockets to search me, then tried throwing my valuables out of the tray without my consent. The same steward then tried to mock a fellow fan for having a steering wheel lock. Really disappointing experience at Port Vale.

@Millertron2011: One things for sure it won’t have been the police’ fault 🙄

@Chris_CA2: Sure you’ll receive plenty of footage of the police battering folk.

@Adam_PVFC: The same police force that caused everything yeah? 😅

@MichaelFerns12: I hope this is an investigation into the the police officers involved, assaulting women and children while laughing, something tells me there will be no body cam footage of this….

@joebeech99: If anyone has the video of me getting punched in the face by a copper on the floor please send it me 👍🏻

@jamesn002: Shame the police can’t behave impeccably either. Get a little bit of power and think their above the law 👍

@andy171076: Does that include a Sergeant spraying CS spray randomly into a group of people? Would be interesting to hear the observations of the IOPC and the Staffordshire police PSB on this matter – or will this be omitted from the report or the use of force forms?

@Domw921: But you pepper sprayed fans for no reason…

@MlzPVFC: Shocking policing as usual

@TwistedmindPhot: Used to be away fans had to wait so long until the match for home fans to leave . Its looks bad on both sets of fans now given the large presence outside the ground. Forget this human rights rubbish common sense means no need for trouble and all enjoy the game no forward thinking

@ollyandpatch: When one of the leading police officers standing between both sets of fans outside the Vine shouted to his colleagues “just get the Vale fans cleared because I’ve not got a clue how we get this lot (Oldham) out of Burslem” I thought we may have a bit of a problem here. !!

@kevanpotts: U could tell they weren’t staffs coppers.. totally heavy handed.. who’s idea was it walk them out the same time as vale fans.

@Liamoafc13: Anything being done about your lot pepper spraying teenagers like me who did fuck all wrong and then went on to twat me with their batton because I couldn’t see fuck all and was stopping walking because of that same reason, joke of police

@CraigST6: Some appalling policing too, poor decision making in separating the fans where they did on Hamil Road resulting in both sets being penned in together and then batons and tazers being drawn when people were trying to get out of it. There’s always idiots at football, police too.

@Bericonforensic: There needs to be some serious questions asked about the post-match policing decisions today.

@Bede1978: How did you allow a mob of Oldham fans to get to the bottom of Hamil Road after the game? Good job it was just kids giving it the big ‘un or you’d have had a major issue on your hands.

@jgrainger87: Not defending the behaviour of the fans but the behaviour the police was a disgrace. Saw one lad fully leathered in the mouth while on the floor. Another smashed into the ground so hard that blood was pouring from his face!! Stupid to let the fans leave together like that.

@BenHeal32597073: Organisation from the police was piss poor all’s it took was to have a few buses for the Oldham fans to take them back to the station not let them out on the hamil again police causing the problem

@FranceOAFC: Corrupt policing .. you can pick on innocent fans and do naff all against Borris… And his part goers .. your just a bunch of wannabe communists …it’s our way or no way .blah blah. it’s police service not Force. Anymore .. you couldn’t find your toes in your shoes ..

@Matty_pvfc: Your officers were one of the main causes of trouble but will we hear about that? No probably not #pvfc

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