Particular attention was paid to the safety and security operations undertaken by other clubs and police forces for Cardiff's away fixtures.
Present were City owner Sam Hammam, Ninian Park Stadium Manager Wayne Nash, the club's Safety Officer, Alan Kerslake, a number of officers from the SWP Football Policing Team including Chief Inspector Martin Webster and PC Simon Insole, Valley RAMS representatives Paul Corkrey and Gwyn Davies, CCSC representative Vince Alm, Tim Long from the club's disabled supporters association, several other supporters and members of club staff, and South Wales Echo chief sports writer Terry Phillips.
Dr Clifford Stott, a leading academic expert on football-related disorder, gave a lengthy and very interesting presentation to begin what developed into a productive meeting that lasted for several hours.
Over the last few years, Dr Stott and his team at Liverpool University have been studying policing methods at football matches both at home and abroad. He has attended numerous British games, including thirteen high-profile Cardiff City matches, and has conducted more than thirty cross-force policing comparisons.
During a detailed presentation entitled ‘Policing CCFC', Dr Stott was full of praise for the measures that the South Wales Police, the football club and its supporters have put in place in recent years to combat the problem of crowd disorder at City matches.
He said it was clear that problems at the infamous Leeds United FA Cup tie in January 2002 had been the catalyst for significant changes in the way that Cardiff City games are policed, and that the partnership formed following that game between the SWP, the club and the fans had proved extremely effective, particularly with regard to matches at Ninian Park.
Dr Stott told the meeting he considered this partnership to be almost unique in nature, and suggested the framework that has been put in place here in Cardiff is one of the most efficient in the country, as evidenced by the fact that less than fifty City fans were arrested last season, compared to a figure of more than one hundred and seventy a few years back. He explained that he's been actively encouraging other police forces around the country to follow the Cardiff model for the prevention of crowd disorder, and that some other forces are now starting to implement similar measures.
However, Dr Stott said he was aware that a few cracks had begun to appear in the Cardiff City partnership during the 2005/06 season, and that the relationship between the club, its supporters and the police had become a little strained in recent months. He said he therefore felt that now was an excellent time to discuss the problem issues in preparation for the new season, in the hope that the partnership can continue to build on the solid foundations that have been laid since 2002.
The meeting developed into an open forum at this point, and a wide variety of crowd control issues were debated during a frank exchange of views. Wayne Nash and Chief Inspector Webster outlined some of the problems they encounter in meetings with officials from other clubs and police forces ahead of Cardiff away games, and hinted that arranging satisfactory measures for fixtures in certain areas of jurisdiction has become particularly difficult of late.
Dr Stott pointed to the fact that different police forces can use vastly differing methods for preventing and containing disorder at football matches, and that this in itself can lead to problems for visiting fans as they are rarely dealt with in a consistent manner from game to game. The supporters present also identified this particular issue as a major concern.
The supporters clubs' representatives brought up the subject of the excessive and unnecessary amounts of time that their coaches are sometimes held at police rendezvous points before being escorted to grounds. The club and police representatives noted the relevant complaints and pledged to improve the situation if possible.
The major topic of discussion during the open forum was drunkenness at away fixtures. Chief Inspector Webster indicated that there is almost certain to be a nationwide police campaign to combat excessive drinking and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour at football matches this season, and that Cardiff City fans are highly likely to be targeted by certain police forces during the crackdown.
The Chief Inspector asked for the supporters' help in limiting the problem, and requested that a degree of self-policing amongst fans take place if at all possible. He was at pains to point out that neither he nor his colleagues in the SWP Football Policing Team are seeking to stop Cardiff supporters enjoying a drink on their travels. However, he suggested that the authorities are set to get tough this season with fans who turn up at games in a drunk and disorderly state, so he urged those present to do what they can in a bid to avoid any unnecessary confrontations and arrests either outside or inside grounds.
It was agreed by all present that this particular issue is going to prove an extremely difficult one to tackle, as there appears to be no obvious solution. Nevertheless, all concerned agreed to give the matter further consideration.
Undertakings were given by club and police officials to include the supporters in the liaison process with other clubs and police forces ahead of away matches on a more regular basis this season if possible. Dr Stott also volunteered to play a part in this process, and he will be taking a more active role in making arrangements for future away games when permitted to do so by the host clubs and police forces.
The meeting closed with commitments being made by all present to ensure better communications between the fans, the club and the police during the forthcoming season, with progress to be reviewed at a further meeting in a few months' time.