[Archived] Guantanamo Bay in the Darwen End

[Moppy]

Interesting read,

Clicky

Although it doesn't say specifically that stewards have no right to search you it does say

"Stewards

Most clubs employ stewards for crowd control. They have the rights of citizens arrest' (i.e. if you have committed a criminal offence they can arrest you and hand you over to the police) but in reality the police will invariably back up their actions, right or wrong."

It doesn not say they have the right to search you. However my guess would be that if you don't submit the club has the right of refusal under any circumstances. So you don't have to let them search you but they don't have to let you in.

Being search on mass is not a pleasent, if the club carry on treating fans this way my guess is even fewer will be coming back next season.

[arbitro]

Have some of you guys never been out of the house before?

You get searched all the time these days. Go to a club and they rifle through all of your personal belongings and frisk you.

The club may be worried about violence breaking out in the Darwen end due to the close proximity to the away fans and the general sentiment at the club. I don't think that's too unlikely to be honest.

I really don't believe it's a vendetta. Otherwise it would be prevalent in all of the stands.

Surely the fact it was only the Darwen End does make it a vendetta.

[Amo]

As I am not an Ewood regular, I can only infer from what people have said so far, and that is the stewarding was unprecedented by the club. So for those saying "It happens at other clubs" or "You were only searched" you seem to be missing the point entirely. One must question the motives behind this sudden rise in security. Do you honestly believe it's to keep the peace? If so, on what basis?

No, this has been designed to prevent freedom of expression and further smear the good name of the fanbase. Of course, I'm sure some sections will actually approve of it, since you should "back the team!" and those despicable banners will only ruin this golden season.

[PAFELL]

I know for fact that stewards doing one days temp work at other clubs do not have there CRB's checked or even asked for.

Then they would be put in other areas of the ground where searches etc are not likely to be carried out.

[PAFELL]

Surely the fact it was only the Darwen End does make it a vendetta.

They did say it was a trial. Maybe chose DE because of smaller numbers.

[EwoodDawn]

I'm quite fearful that if this 'experiment' is deemed to be a success and spread across the ground, it just might push one or two people over the edge and end up with them getting into trouble - not that I'm a violent person, nor am I in favour of any violence. It's just that having witnessed the Blackburn End (not me, i might add) booing our own players DURING the first half of the Villa game, something I don't think I've ever witnessed before, I felt at half time that the atmosphere was getting nasty and I absolutely thought it was a good job that things improved on the pitch for the second half. The thing is that for all the attempts to 'control' the crowd, or at least their banners, it won't stop people's natural reactions to bad performances and could in fact heighten them. I sincerely hope that this isn't the aim of the search implementers.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

As I am not an Ewood regular, I can only infer from what people have said so far, and that is the stewarding was unprecedented by the club. So for those saying "It happens at other clubs" or "You were only searched" you seem to be missing the point entirely. One must question the motives behind this sudden rise in security. Do you honestly believe it's to keep the peace? If so, on what basis?

No, this has been designed to prevent freedom of expression and further smear the good name of the fanbase. Of course, I'm sure some sections will actually approve of it, since you should "back the team!" and those despicable banners will only ruin this golden season.

Cracking post and totally agree. It happens at other venues because trouble happens at other venues. If decades of exemplary behaviour from our fans, and especially our fans at home, counts for nothing else, then it should count against our own club introducing searches, lines and police monitoring as we enter the ground. Nothing any Rovers fan has done at Ewood in the past justifies or explains why these searches have been introduced. It may happen elsewhere but its never happened at Rovers, and fans find it so unacceptable because its so inappropriate for how we behave.

[Hasta]

The club may be worried about violence breaking out in the Darwen end due to the close proximity to the away fans and the general sentiment at the club. I don't think that's too unlikely to be honest.

Come on Bucky. They were looking for banners and A4 pics of chickens with Keanos face on - not k ives and bottles. I think even most of the people accepting the searches know that.

[Mattyh1983]

Interesting read,

Clicky

Although it doesn't say specifically that stewards have no right to search you it does say

"Stewards

Most clubs employ stewards for crowd control. They have the rights of citizens arrest' (i.e. if you have committed a criminal offence they can arrest you and hand you over to the police) but in reality the police will invariably back up their actions, right or wrong."

It doesn not say they have the right to search you. However my guess would be that if you don't submit the club has the right of refusal under any circumstances. So you don't have to let them search you but they don't have to let you in.

Being search on mass is not a pleasent, if the club carry on treating fans this way my guess is even fewer will be coming back next season.

FYI

ground regulation section 6 on display at every turnstile at Ewood Park and at every Premier League and Football League ground.

6 All persons seeking entrance to the Ground acknowledge the Club's right to search any person entering the Ground and to refuse entry to or eject from the Ground any person refusing to submit to such a search.

[arbitro]

They did say it was a trial. Maybe chose DE because of smaller numbers.

Or maybe because that's where the most vociferous protests have come from. Don't be fooled by the trial, there was one ulterior motive behind this and it was because some banners were displayed against QPR and John Newshams nose was put out of joint. It really is a case of I'll show 'em who's boss. It's one man on a power trip who unfortunately has a postion of considerable strength because, it appears he doesn't have anybody to answer to. Sounds familiar eh?

[PAFELL]

Or maybe because that's where the most vociferous protests have come from. Don't be fooled by the trial, there was one ulterior motive behind this and it was because some banners were displayed against QPR and John Newshams nose was put out of joint. It really is a case of I'll show 'em who's boss. It's one man on a power trip who unfortunately has a postion of considerable strength because, it appears he doesn't have anybody to answer to. Sounds familiar eh?

Well if the club have banned banners. Right or wrong, it is the clubs choice.

But if somebody breached the ban and the club want to continue the ban. Then they are likely to try to deter further breaches. It is often how security is done.

[rhodie]

We're objecting because it is ludicrous to search fans for protest banners, because we don't like being treated like hooligans, because its discriminatory to only search one stand, because there were more stewards and more searches at the home entrance than the away entrance, because it made some fans miss the start of the match, and because at least a few searches were carried out on children (as witnessed by numerous fans). If this is causing fans to fall out with each other then I can only question why on earth fans like you are defending this demented policy.

You seem to be mistaking who has the power here. If the club say "do one", then people will do one. Will the club have won in that case? No will they heck, they'll have less fans, less money and support, and so Rovers will be less successful. Its up to the club to backtrack on this, apologise, and hope the fans are in a forgiving mood. It is not up to the fans, as paying customers, to shut up and accept this treatment. Rovers need us, but many fans are starting to come to the conclusion that they don't need Rovers.

[Hasta]

And then they wonder why there is a plane flying over their heads pulling a banner.

[Ozz]

They were looking for banners and A4 pics of chickens with Keanos face on - not k ives...

Funnily enough, (or more likely not enough) I once went to Rovers with Keith Ives, and he was waved straight in by the stewards. S'pose it's who you know, not what you know, or indeed what your name is spelt similar to.

[rhodie]

We're objecting because it is ludicrous to search fans for protest banners, because we don't like being treated like hooligans, because its discriminatory to only search one stand, because there were more stewards and more searches at the home entrance than the away entrance, because it made some fans miss the start of the match, and because at least a few searches were carried out on children (as witnessed by numerous fans). If this is causing fans to fall out with each other then I can only question why on earth fans like you are defending this demented policy.

You seem to be mistaking who has the power here. If the club say "do one", then people will do one. Will the club have won in that case? No will they heck, they'll have less fans, less money and support, and so Rovers will be less successful. Its up to the club to backtrack on this, apologise, and hope the fans are in a forgiving mood. It is not up to the fans, as paying customers, to shut up and accept this treatment. Rovers need us, but many fans are starting to come to the conclusion that they don't need Rovers.

Suggest you actually read my comment ,If you did the first time you would see I`m not defending the policy at all.With regards your other comments They were also answered in my previous post, guess that makes me psychic.

[LeChuck]

Funnily enough, (or more likely not enough) I once went to Rovers with Keith Ives, and he was waved straight in by the stewards. S'pose it's who you know, not what you know, or indeed what your name is spelt similar to.

[Hasta]

Funnily enough, (or more likely not enough) I once went to Rovers with Keith Ives, and he was waved straight in by the stewards. S'pose it's who you know, not what you know, or indeed what your name is spelt similar to.

:-)

Lol very gd. Its hard enough typing on a mobile this small. Editing mistakes is a no no.

[Majiball]

Funnily enough, (or more likely not enough) I once went to Rovers with Keith Ives, and he was waved straight in by the stewards. S'pose it's who you know, not what you know, or indeed what your name is spelt similar to.

So we should get Keith Ives to carry all the banners in.

Job done.

[Amo]

So we should get Keith Ives to carry all the banners in.

Job done.

Make sure he does it sharpish.

[Ralfinho]

have any group of fans gone wearing a single letter on the front of their tshirt but all sat together spell either KEAN OUT or VENKYS OUT?

I would like to see how the stewards would handle that one especially if they all go in at separate times

[Bluemonday BRFC]

This is our football club for Christ's sake, who do they think they are trying to employ intimidation tactics on innocent home supporters?!

Just another nonsensical move by B.R.F.C. to drive a deeper wedge between themselves and the fans. Tossers!

[LDRover]

Well if the club have banned banners. Right or wrong, it is the clubs choice.

But if somebody breached the ban and the club want to continue the ban. Then they are likely to try to deter further breaches. It is often how security is done.

So, if they have banned banners, period, why were the Villa fans allowed to unfurl a 'McLeish Out' banner unchallenged?

[Ossydave]

They did say it was a trial. Maybe chose DE because of smaller numbers.

Well yes IF it was an experiment it would make sense to carry it out in the stand with the lowest numbers of Rovers fans going in there.

Anyway, can't be arsed with this argument anymore some of the comments on here are just pathetic.

[Doogs]

A simple answer to the searching issue at the Darwen End. Dont go to the Sunderland game as a protest.I sit in the Darwen End, and I will not be attending due to the search policy.

[super_arran]

I've been searched going in to the BBE about 4 times this season.

They even took my can of coke off me on one occasion. (true story)

It didn't bother me too much.

Worse things happen at sea and all that.

Ps. Wasn't we searched in a similar way at the DW stadium this season? Single file and everyone patted down?

I don't know why I put question marks to be honest because I know we were.