Email from Mr Thompson re. soft segregation
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 9:05 pm
This is my reply from Mr Thompson after I had a moan about moving A13 ST holders from the stand , particularly after the Sutton game when they hardly had any fans in the stand. His reply is obviously framed around some of my specific queries in my email.
I hope he wouldn't mind me sharing this as I think it's a well considered reply outlining some of the issues and I know other fans have also questioned the reasons.
Dear Mr
Thank you for your e-mail which has been forwarded on to me.
For some seasons now we have allowed Soft Segregation in the A13 Stand when the number of away support was forecast to be low and when the Safety Officer and Police would allow.
Before we could do this under and under the terms of our Safety Certificate we were required to seek the approval of the Local Authority and Met Police via our SAG (Safety Advisory Group).
This was agreed subject to certain conditions and this was published on our website here https://www.daggers.co.uk/tickets .
On relegation instead of picking 10 games, half at the start and the rest during the season we decided to try and minimise the number.
But this meant assessing the games on an individual basis about 4 to 6 weeks before each match.
The larger games are easy to predict, Leyton Orient for example.
Some of the other fixtures not so easy.
I must admit that at the start of the season we fully expected both Chesterfield and Barnet to bring larger support than they eventually did and they were both initially earmarked for segregation but with Chesterfield not starting well we were able to downgrade this and allow soft-segregation.
However with Barnet due to some problems with both sets of supporters at the game at the Hive it was considered that hard segregation was required, even though less than 600 were anticipated.
When we considered the Aldershot game we discussed the matter at length but decided (probably incorrectly with hindsight) to allow soft segregation and subsequently we had to close the bar early, extra police were drafted in and there were scuffles after the game at Dagenham East Underground Station.
During the debrief that we had with the Met Police a week after that game the police requested Hard Segregation for the Sutton match.
I was surprised but intelligence that the police had led them to make the request which we really had to accept.
At the start of the season apart from Barnet, Chesterfield and Leyton Orient I didn’t envisage any other league games requiring Hard Segregation, so just 3 not the 10 we have had in the past.
However there is still the possibility that the games against Eastleigh and Solihull Moors could still be chosen.
At the start of the season neither of these games would have come within this scope.
But with both teams looking for at least a Play-Off position and possibly even automatic promotion, in Solihull’s case it is feasible they could even win the title that day, the prospect of larger away support and a more volatile atmosphere is real.
A decision around Eastleigh will be made in the next few weeks.
I realise that it can be frustrating, like on Saturday, but I hope I have shown you why this is and the lengths we go too to assist supporters.
By assessing each game in turn we have been able to reduce by more than half the number of games that fall into this category which I am sure you will agree is a good thing.
With regards to announcing these games we do try and give at least 4 weeks’ notice and this is always posted on our website and then put out via our twitter and Facebook accounts https://twitter.com/Dag_RedFC/status/10 ... 8053587968
But I take on board your comment on e-mailing and will arrange for this to also be done for A13 season ticket holders.
I trust this answers your questions but if you do have any further comments please do not hesitate in contacting me.
Kind regards
Steve
Stephen Thompson MBE
Managing Director
Dagenham & Redbridge FC
The Chigwell Construction Stadium | Victoria Road | Dagenham | RM10 7XL
T: 020 8592 1549 ext 20 | E: steve@daggers.co.uk
I hope he wouldn't mind me sharing this as I think it's a well considered reply outlining some of the issues and I know other fans have also questioned the reasons.
Dear Mr
Thank you for your e-mail which has been forwarded on to me.
For some seasons now we have allowed Soft Segregation in the A13 Stand when the number of away support was forecast to be low and when the Safety Officer and Police would allow.
Before we could do this under and under the terms of our Safety Certificate we were required to seek the approval of the Local Authority and Met Police via our SAG (Safety Advisory Group).
This was agreed subject to certain conditions and this was published on our website here https://www.daggers.co.uk/tickets .
On relegation instead of picking 10 games, half at the start and the rest during the season we decided to try and minimise the number.
But this meant assessing the games on an individual basis about 4 to 6 weeks before each match.
The larger games are easy to predict, Leyton Orient for example.
Some of the other fixtures not so easy.
I must admit that at the start of the season we fully expected both Chesterfield and Barnet to bring larger support than they eventually did and they were both initially earmarked for segregation but with Chesterfield not starting well we were able to downgrade this and allow soft-segregation.
However with Barnet due to some problems with both sets of supporters at the game at the Hive it was considered that hard segregation was required, even though less than 600 were anticipated.
When we considered the Aldershot game we discussed the matter at length but decided (probably incorrectly with hindsight) to allow soft segregation and subsequently we had to close the bar early, extra police were drafted in and there were scuffles after the game at Dagenham East Underground Station.
During the debrief that we had with the Met Police a week after that game the police requested Hard Segregation for the Sutton match.
I was surprised but intelligence that the police had led them to make the request which we really had to accept.
At the start of the season apart from Barnet, Chesterfield and Leyton Orient I didn’t envisage any other league games requiring Hard Segregation, so just 3 not the 10 we have had in the past.
However there is still the possibility that the games against Eastleigh and Solihull Moors could still be chosen.
At the start of the season neither of these games would have come within this scope.
But with both teams looking for at least a Play-Off position and possibly even automatic promotion, in Solihull’s case it is feasible they could even win the title that day, the prospect of larger away support and a more volatile atmosphere is real.
A decision around Eastleigh will be made in the next few weeks.
I realise that it can be frustrating, like on Saturday, but I hope I have shown you why this is and the lengths we go too to assist supporters.
By assessing each game in turn we have been able to reduce by more than half the number of games that fall into this category which I am sure you will agree is a good thing.
With regards to announcing these games we do try and give at least 4 weeks’ notice and this is always posted on our website and then put out via our twitter and Facebook accounts https://twitter.com/Dag_RedFC/status/10 ... 8053587968
But I take on board your comment on e-mailing and will arrange for this to also be done for A13 season ticket holders.
I trust this answers your questions but if you do have any further comments please do not hesitate in contacting me.
Kind regards
Steve
Stephen Thompson MBE
Managing Director
Dagenham & Redbridge FC
The Chigwell Construction Stadium | Victoria Road | Dagenham | RM10 7XL
T: 020 8592 1549 ext 20 | E: steve@daggers.co.uk