Police look into incident caused by Ipswich fans on train after match

Police have been called in to look into an incident which was caused by Ipswich Town fans on a train after a recent league match.

Reports say that officers want to speak to the group of supporters – who had attended the League One match at Plymouth Argyle – after homophobic abuse to a passenger on board

The lads were travelling on the 6:15pm service from Plymouth to Paddington on Sunday the 31st of October with claims that they were singing homophobic chants and making other passengers on board feel uncomfortable.

The previous day, Ipswich Town had lost 2-1 at Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park.

Police believe the men pictured in these photos may be able to help them with their investigation.

If you recognise them, or have any information, please contact the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2100082301.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Ipswich Town have since issued a statement, saying that anyone convicted of homophobic chanting “will not be welcomed back” at the club.

Club bosses said they have a “zero-tolerance” approach to homophobic behaviour and confirmed the club is working with police regarding the alleged incident.

A spokesman for Ipswich Town said: “The club has been aware and has been dealing with this incident together with British Transport Police and Suffolk police over the last six weeks.

“At Ipswich Town Football Club we believe everyone has the right to enjoy attending matches and following their club in a safe, tolerant and friendly environment.

“To safeguard the reputation the club has built up over the years, and to ensure our aims are met, we will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any such homophobic, racist or anti-social behaviour.”

The club said anyone found guilty of such offences “will not be welcomed back at our club”.

Social media users gave their reaction as police look into the incident caused by Ipswich fans on a train after a recent match…

Alex Wilson: Absolutely disgusting u are not fans

Kieron Spooner: I did read that homophobia was linked to lower intelligence….

Ben Wiles: Top right Is Jonny rotten

James Papworth: I like to think ITFC has fewer rotten eggs than most other clubs but clearly a few do parade as fans in our club.

Adrian Pennock: Why call them men? Total f#ckwitted scum.

Shaun Lodge: Complete knobs

Jamie Green: Sadly every club has people like this just a shame to be photographed in our clubs colours 🥺

Sam De la Rue: no idea who these potenial knobs are, and they may very well be the utter tossers theyre depicted to be however, theyre innocent until proven guilty so it maybe worth getting off the bandwagon untill we see context and evidence in general?

Eddie Hoskins: Hope the victim is alright, a disgrace that this keeps happening to innocent people who are just trying to get by in life being who they are

Phil Everson: Let’s wait and see if they are found guilty of anything first, shall we, before we start condemning people

Jason Lee: If the culprits are found and guilty, how they get punished big time, make them learn that what was said is not ok. Belittling someone, making them feel bullied, makes you less a man and more like scum

Will Hayward: Absolutely disgusting

Paul Fletcher: A well put statement from Ipswich Town imo just hope they can get found

Si Osbourne: Makes me sick knowing that we have some homophobic fans supporting our club, it’s 2021 people!

Dan Garrison: Pisses me off how many are mocking people for being gay or looking a certain way. It’s not on. They haven’t done anything to you.

REPORT HOMOPHOBIA IN FOOTBALL

Hate incidents and hate crimes are acts of violence or hostility directed at people because of who they are or who someone thinks they are. For example, you may have had abuse shouted at you on the street because you were holding hands with your same-sex partner. 

Police forces in England and Wales make a distinction between a hate crime and a hate incident.

A hate incident is defined as any act, which may or may not be a crime, that the victim or any other person perceives to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards an aspect of a person’s identity. Hate incidents include:

• verbal abuse like name-calling 
• harassment
• physical attacks such as hitting, punching, pushing, spitting
• threats of violence
• hoax calls, abusive phone or text messages, hate mail
• online abuse for example on Facebook or Twitter
• harm or damage to things such as your home, pet, vehicle
• graffiti
• arson.

A hate crime is any illegal act where the perpetrator is motivated by or demonstrates hostility towards an aspect of a person’s identity, specifically their race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

When classed as a hate crime, the perpetrator may receive a tougher sentence under the Criminal Disorder Act 1998 or the Criminal Justice Act 2003, depending on which identity strand is targeted. The law does not currently recognise intersectionality in hate crime legislation.

Homophobic, biphobic or transphobic hate crimes or incidents are motivated by the offender’s hostility or prejudice towards lesbian, gay, bi or trans people.

Anyone can be a victim of a homophobic, biphobic or transphobic incident – it does not matter if the victim is lesbian, gay, bi, trans or straight.

It may be a hate crime if someone shouts homophobic, biphobic or transphobic abuse at someone in the street, or physically attacks them because they think they’re gay, lesbian, bi or trans.

If you feel you have experienced a hate crime or incident, report it. The police can only do something if they know about it. If they don’t know, they can’t prevent things from getting worse. By reporting a crime or an incident you could be protecting someone else from harm.

There are a number of ways to report a homophobic, biphobic or transphobic hate crime or incident:

• In an emergency call 999
• At other times you can contact your local police force by dialling 101
• You can report crime anonymously through the police website True Vision
• You can get more support from Stop Hate UK
• Some local LGBT groups provide hate crime reporting services. Find details for a group in your area through our ‘What’s in my area?‘ database