After advice from Suffolk Police, the screenings of England matches in Chantry Park this summer have been cancelled.
??Promoter GroupING Events had planned to show all of England’s World Cup Matches on a large screen. However, in a meeting held last week with Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk Constabulary raised a number of concerns and requested that the games not be shown.??There was a fear that the combination of alcohol and intensified emotion within such a large crowd could result in anti-social behaviour and a raised level of violent disorder. While Suffolk Constabulary do not want to stop people enjoying the World Cup our primary concern is with public safety.??Local residents raised concerns about the effect the screenings would have on them. Raised noise levels, drunkenness and anti-social behaviour were among the problems they felt would increase if the games were shown.??Intelligence gathered by officers in Ipswich suggested that the majority of those attending the events would be young people intent on drinking alcohol. Furthermore, it was also suggested that a number of people intent on causing trouble were planning to attend.??Superintendent David Skevington said: “I am of the firm belief that the showing of each England football match via a big screen in an open air park could have undermined and possibly derailed the good partnership work which has been done to reduce alcohol-related violent crime in the borough, as well as present significant community safety issues.??"I am clear in my own mind that these events can pose a significant threat to community cohesion as they present an increased risk of violence and anti-social behaviour. These are important issues that we and the council are very focussed on working on in partnership to reduce and we are making good progress.
Manchester City Council has praised the fans at the Hyundai World Cup Fan Park in Castlefield a success during England’s first match in the tournament. More than 10,000 people were in Castlefield for the match.
Apart from one isolated incident towards the end of the match, which was dealt with quickly and effectively by police and security staff, the event was trouble-free with fans enjoying the sunshine and good-natured family atmosphere, if not the result.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said: "Like thousands of people I watched England play the USA at the Hyundai World Cup Fan Park in Castlefield and the atmosphere was amazing. There was a real World Cup spirit throughout the park.
"A tiny and insignificant handful of fools let themselves down near the end of the game, but they were quickly dealt with by the police. The overwhelming majority of the crowd did the city proud and demonstrated clearly what it means to be true football fans.
"We didn’t quite get the result we wanted but it’s very early in the tournament and I’m confident England can go all the way and am looking forward to watching our next match in the Hyundai Fan Park."
See BBC news item about Manchester big screen –
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/10309557.stm
