'Police got Bristol Rovers crowd control wrong'

Police tactics have been questioned after football fans brought busy Gloucester Road to a standstill at the weekend before Bristol Rovers played Leeds United.

There were also reports that a number of pubs near the Memorial Ground in Horfield were "trashed" following Saturday's match - the Pirates' second 2-2 draw against their Yorkshire rivals this season.

Bev Knott, Lib Dem councillor for Bishopston, believes the police got it wrong by allowing fans to parade up the centre of Gloucester Road on their way to the game, bringing traffic to a halt.

He has now written to Avon and Somerset Assistant Chief Constable John Long, asking him to explain police tactics.

He said: "People going about their everyday business on a Saturday afternoon should not have to rub shoulders with football fans intent on causing trouble.

"There was a heavy police presence, but shoppers with children shouldn't be put in a position where they run the risk of being caught up with fans. I believe the police got it wrong on Saturday.

"Residents who have nothing to do with football should not be made to feel intimidated by groups of football supporters and I, on behalf of residents who live in the area, want to know what the police are going to do to prevent it happening in the future.

"I have also been told that a number of pubs in the area were trashed after the game.

"I have written to Mr Long asking him if he would find it acceptable if he lived in the area."

Trouble broke out before the match in Gloucester Road, close to its junction with Sommerville Road and Berkeley Road, in Bishopston.

The police helicopter hovered above a group of supporters who were surrounded by police dressed in riot gear.

Mr Knott told The Post he witnessed the incident and said none of the supporters were wearing club colours to mark them out as home or away fans.

He said: "Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a riot or anything approaching the trouble we had in Gloucester Road a few years ago.

"But it's very rare that Gloucester Road is brought to a standstill in this way, and quite rightly, I have been asked why the police allowed it to happen."

There were also reports of trouble outside the Queen Vic pub and at The Foresters prior to kick off.

Cath Foster, an Avon and Somerset police spokeswoman, said: "Prior to Saturday's football match, police were in Gloucester Road acting on intelligence to prevent any potential public disorders or breach of the peace. The police helicopter was also in attendance.

"After the match, police responded to reports of football supporters throwing glass bottles in Ashley Down Road.

"Five arrests were made for public order offences, including affray."

She refused to comment on Mr Knott's letter to Mr Long, saying it was a private matter between them.

Although Rovers pays for policing inside the ground during home matches, it does not contribute to the cost of policing fans before and after games.

A Bristol Rovers club spokesman said: "We work in conjunction with the police to organise crowd control in the most efficient way. We do not condone violence or trouble of any kind and will not tolerate it."