Police target troublemakers

Last updated : 16 May 2003 By Luke Thornhill
Up to 450 people were involved in trouble in and around Glanford Park, with ten people arrested on the night and charged with public order offences.

Humberside Police believe that the violence had been pre-planned between rivals gangs through the use of mobile phones.

Fans clashed during the game, while the most serious incident came after the match when fans fought on Doncaster Road and Hilton Avenue.

Insp Watson told the Scunthorpe Telegraph: “Our policing tactics were appropriate for the circumstances my officers found themselves in.

“This may not have been reflected in the number of arrests made, because of the sheer numbers of hooligans and levels of violence offered to my officers.

“Zero tolerance does not just extend to match days. We are currently collating all the CCTV evidence with a view to conducting post-match arrests.”

Scunthorpe United have insisted that they cannot control tickets once they have been sold, with the suggestion that Iron fans had sold tickets for the home terrace to Lincoln fans.

Iron Chief Executive Don Rowing said: “That is something we can’t control, and if people want to make profits from that there’s nothing we can do.

"It’s very easy to criticise from afar, what can you do? Your hands are tied."