Page:Hillsborough Taylor Interim Report Cm765.pdf/45



Police Intelligence in Advance

Apart from that experience in 1988, the tendency of Liverpool supporters to arrive late was not unknown. Witnesses said that they get through the turnstiles at their home ground, Anfield, quite quickly and tend therefore not to arrive early. Indeed, a general recent tendency to postpone arrival was noted by the Sheffield City Council Advisory Group, with police present, on 23 March 1988. The minute reads:-

""As far as the turnstile question was concerned, a pattern has developed of people arriving some 15 minutes before the start of the game hoping to gain admission. This trend may be due to the banning of alcohol at sports grounds which could lead to people going elsewhere for refreshment prior to the football match. As the available turnstiles operated quite effectively for the majority of the time, and that the late arrival problem could perhaps only be dealt with by education of the spectators" (sic)."

In so far as Liverpool supporters' behaviour at away matches may have been indicative of what police problems might arise on 15 April, most of the facts should have been available at the planning stage. As in other forces, South Yorkshire Police had a liaison officer whose job was to seek, receive and collate relevant information as to the visiting supporters. The Association of Chief Police Officers' Guide to Policing Football highlights the importance of such liaison:"It is important that the officer responsible for policing the match determines the pre-match planning in the light of the intelligence at hand. Whilst that intelligence can be obtained from a variety of sources, the prime source for football intelligence is the Police National Intelligence System which is based on the network of police liaison officers. Summaries completed by police officers of the home club force are forwarded to the visiting club's liaison officer making available intelligence about fans' behaviour at both home and away fixtures. This information will be collated and made available for future matches involving that club".

The FA had also laid down in a memorandum issued in the 1985/6 season measures to be adopted by the away club which included the following:- ""It is the responsibility of the away club to advise the home club of the recent behaviour of their supporters at away matches, irrespective of whether the behaviour has resulted in disciplinary action by the Football Association or not"."

It does not seem that information of this kind was passed to the Sheffield Wednesday Club or played Rh