Erik Geddes on the Airdrie policing

IT'S NOT everyday that you get a You've Been Framed moment in Airdrie but it certainly felt that way recently for dozens of Partick Thistle fans.

Around 2.30pm, on July 25, a train carrying Thistle supporters, including families with kids, arrived at Drumgelloch station and was met by Lanarkshire police officers. Most Thistle fans wouldn't be too proud to admit at being slightly relieved by the sight of police officers at some point over the years. However, Saturday's escort to the ground was interrupted for 15 minutes where the group of some 60 or so fans were held back by the police and lined-up, filmed and told nothing about the reasons for this.

Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT) are the name given to the camera carrying cops. FITs are becoming more and more common in all areas of public surveillance, however this episode outside Airdrie's ground was a first for most Jags fans.

Life-long Jags fan Alan Fraser, 47, retail manager, attended the Challenge Cup game, which Partick Thistle eventually won 0-1. He was there with his 12-year-old son Alfie, and they were part of the contingent held-up.

He said: “I was interested in what the whole thing was about, I couldn't get forward to ask the police as we all had to stand in on the pavement. “The WPC at the back was friendly enough but didn't have any information to give us as to why we were being delayed entry into the ground.

“I suppose if this sort of thing did eliminate football violence then it would be worthwhile but I couldn't see the point of what the police doing on Saturday. I don't know how this sort of thing is helpful to anyone. Also I don't mind too much if the police escort us to the ground but quite why they were filming I don't know. "

“They didn't film Alfie or me close-up, but I imagine they will have as we walked down the hill before getting stopped.”

In May, towards the end of last season, a street brawl in Glasgow's west end - which resulted in one man needing surgery on his head - brought home the fact that football violence is alive and kicking. As there was little sign of the easily identifiable Airdrie or Thistle casuals it seemed all the more surprising, and annoying that our days football viewing had been delayed, with surveillance cameras in our faces.

Inspector Bill Crawford, from Motherwell Police station was match commander at the game and explained the policing of the fans. He said: “We felt there could, due to historical issues between certain supporters of Airdrie an Partick Thistle, have been problems. We were trying to identify anyone that has been or was going to cause trouble and filming lets us do it retrospectively.”

I told Inspector Crawford of the families and children present in the crowd being held back and asked if he was able to confirm or deny that they were working on the (quite bizarre) idea of intelligence that suggested these supporters were potential trouble-makers.

He said: “I'm not in a position to say that there was or wasn't any intelligence gathered on any individuals. I wasn't there at that time but I did speak during the course of the game to the Inspector that was there with that team. We can't discriminate and say 'you might be and you might not be a trouble-maker' when dealing with a crowd.”

"We can't discriminate and say 'you might be and you might not be a trouble-maker' when dealing with a crowd.”

The Inspector confirmed that there were no arrests before, during or after the match. Speaking about the footage shot by the FIT squad, or as they are known in Lanarkshire, Evidence Gathering Teams (EGT) I tried to press him to explain what will now happen with the footage. He said: '”It will be reviewed, and if it is believed that there is nothing of any evidential purpose or value then it will be destroyed. It's also to enhance the officers safety. With regard to if anyone who wants to have a go they might think twice.”

For games in the future at Airdrie, and indeed across the country, the police boss was keen to play down, but not rule out, his own or other forces deploying this tactic again. He said: “I wouldn't say that police EGT meeting supporters would be a natural default position. It's not to be ruled out though and maybe used in a situation where we have had problems in the past. "

“It's not cost effective and not best value for us to just throw everything we have at policing games so we only use it after we have risk assessed the situation. We want to minimise the threat of danger and maximise the safety for everyone.”

The days events were neither rash nor reactive but strategic and matter-of-fact. The supporters were compliant and eventually allowed in just before kick-off. It does however raise questions about police powers and UK subjects civil liberties in the twenty first century.

Section 8 of the 1998 Human Rights Act is there to protect citizens from 'interference from public authorities'. On the face of it this wasn't the case on Saturday 25th August. On a much more basic level it dampens the appeal of following SFL football. An already expensive hobby, it's not overly surprising clubs are failing to attract the crowds they need when supporters are now being stopped and filmed by the state on their way to the ground.

(c) Erik Geddes