Police will be undertaking a "proactive" operation to detect illegal drugs when Bristol City FC play Birmingham City on Saturday (March 5). Officers will swab surfaces in Ashton Gate stadium and in local pubs to detect substances like cocaine.
The swab tests will take place at random before and after the match both throughout the stadium and also in pubs nearby. Police also warned that anyone bringing pyrotechnic devices, such as flares, risk being refused entry to the match, or even prosecuted.
The force says that this operation is being conducted "amid a reported rise in instances of disorder at football matches nationally".
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Ahead of Bristol City's 3pm kickoff against Birmingham, officers will be swabbing the Ashton Gate stadium, as well as local pubs as part of "routine licensing checks". Avon and Somerset Police's area commander for Bristol says there has been a well-known "deterioration in the behaviour of football fans".
He referenced the destruction of the Ashton Gate toilets by Cardiff City fans back in January of this year. Two people have also been prosecuted for disorder at football matches in Bristol - one for punishing a police horse, and another for punching another man to the floor.
Superintendent Mark Runacres, area commander for Bristol and Avon and Somerset Police's drug strategy lead, said: “The deterioration in the behaviour of football fans nationally is well publicised and while thankfully we don’t often have to intervene during the matches we police, we want to do everything we can to ensure they are safe, family friendly occasions.
“It was only in January that we saw significant damage caused to the toilets in Ashton Gate’s Ateyo Stand during the game against Cardiff City, while two men have also recently been sentenced for violence following matches at Ashton Gate – one was fined for punching a police horse while the other was jailed for punching another a man to the floor.
“Those who take drugs such as cocaine are known to have a greater propensity for violence and the aim of the operation is identify how widespread such drug use is. The evidence we gather will then be used to inform policing operations at future football matches.
“While we won’t be proactively looking to test supporters themselves, if officers are concerned about the behaviour of any individuals then it will be something they’ll consider.”
The force also issued a reminder that pyrotechnics are not allowed in the stadium due to the risk of injury, warning that fans risk being ejected from the stadium, or even arrested and charged for bringing one to the game. Devices have been used at seven matches, resulted in seven supporters kicked out of a match and two arrested.
Supt Runacres added: “Last month, ahead of the game against Middlesbrough, a 14-year-old boy tried to bring a smoke grenade in the stadium.
“I accept on some occasions people have not been aware they’re committing a criminal offence but ignorance is no excuse. These devices are dangerous – one man suffered second degree burns after a supporter set off a device in the row behind him late last year.
“Anyone who brings a pyrotechnic device to a football is likely to have it taken off them, refused entry or ejected, or even arrested and prosecuted.”
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