Andy Farman
LE
From my side of the discussion, back then, I was often on the DSU, District Support Unit, and there was only an Inspector, a Sergeant, and eight PCs. It was sensible policing, the same as Christmas and New Year. On match days/those holidays, if you nicked someone for a public order offence or drunkenness, then that DSU, or Relief, was two PCs short, and if everyone who was leery and drunk and disorderly, was nicked, then there was very soon no one on the street at a time when a presence was required to more quickly respond to something more serious.I knew a lot of football hooligans over the years- it was basically inevitable. I also shared rooms with some of them in barracks. Some were close friends.
Collectively I view hooligans as utterly selfish and self-indulgent people. They made a big production out of only fighting each other and not harming the public. They conveniently sidestepped the fact that they scared the wits out of Joe Public and his kids every time they went on a rampage.
For me, the bottom line with football hooliganism is some young kid (possibly just in the wrong place at the wrong time) getting knocked to the pavement, and a bunch of cowards swarming around him and kicking him in the head a dozen times. I fully understand the feral attraction football hooliganism always has to young men -particularly the idealised version - but I have no time for it at all.
Was I a pissed up, leery yob?
It's complicated...
Who was going to deal with that? Often half of the local nicks officers were on the policing serials too.
@CSM's Despair.. I give you a very, very belated verbal warning for your loutish, ruffian, behaviour (Says me, on ROPs) and an on ROPs thumbs up for your post.