In his Hereford Times column this morning Graham Turner referred to the Court case between Wigan Athletic and Greater Manchester Police. (See earlier article on Bulls News)
The Hereford United manager is concerned that the club may have to pay for policing outside the ground as well as inside.
Below is a summary of the case from the Guardian last December:
Wigan Athletic have been defeated in their high court battle with Greater Manchester police (GMP). The Premier League club had accused the police of unfair tactics at their home games by trebling the cost of policing matches at the JJB Stadium, and asked a high court judge to referee the legal procedures over a bill approaching £300,000.
But Mr Justice Mann allowed the police to claim some of the money from the club and called on the two sides to get together before each season to agree terms of payment.
During the 2002-03 season Wigan had been asked to pay £61,058 for special policing services required by law within their ground. However, Wigan were asked to pay GMP £226,184 at the end of the following season, and then £283,082 at the end of 2004-05.
The police cited that the increased sum was to cover the area surrounding the stadium, as well as inside it. When Wigan originally refused to pay the higher bill, the police threatened to withdraw their services for this season, which would have meant no home matches.
Adam Lewis, representing the club, had told the judge that the police were taking advantage of Wigan's promotion to the Premier League in 2005 to charge for special policing at a far higher level than other clubs in the area. "Wigan had no choice but to pay the balance, but did so expressly under protest and without prejudice to its defence in the action," said Lewis.
He said Wigan's case was that GMP can only charge for officers on duty within the stadium, inside the turnstiles, where only ticket holders can go. GMP said it was entitled in law to charge Wigan for officers who are deployed in the stadium and in the surrounding area, including car parks, roads and open ground.
The judge went through each match for which the police had sought payment and said that, with one possible exception over how long Police Support Units were deployed, it would allow the parties to work out the sums due. "There was no alternative in the case before me, but it should not be allowed to happen again," he said. "It is vital that the club and police get together before each season and reach an agreement as to how policing is to be paid for."
He said each side must be flexible and there will have to be "give and take". The judge said he hoped the courts would not be faced with having to carry out the exercise again.
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Brentwood In The FA Trophy At Edgar Street On Saturday 16th November At 3.00pm