Not easy to get the policing right, but what we and a few others experienced was ridiculous.
We don't leave early, though last night made an exception as my lad was catching a train back to London, so we went on about 84 minutes. I was parked on Upper Sutton St, by Aston Tower Primary School, meaning our route was past Aston Hall through Aston Park and on a bit.
On Trinity Road a line of coppers was stopping people heading up to Aston Hall because, "There might be some protesters in the park, it's not safe". They were sending people in the direction of the Holte Pub, Aston Tavern etc.. Heading that way would give us no chance of being able to get to the car, so we tried to get through the police line a few more times, further down Trinity Road.
When I said it was the only (sensible) route to get to our car and if they were adament we shouldn't head to Aston Hall/Aston Park they should offer an alternative, one particularly chirpy copper (a Sargeant from up North) said he had no idea as he wasn't local, it wasn't his problem, and I had no clue because "I was no expert on policing".
At which point I suggested that if there was a potential threat in the park, it might be an idea for them to do something about it, rather than standing on Trinity Road. Then, a female officer said that if we decided to walk through the park, they wouldn't actually stop us.
So, they thought there was a risk; they weren't actually going to do anything about it; and they were happy for us to walk into whatever we might find. Less than useless - particularly as you would have thought they had two hours to disperse any protesters or at least know where they were, during the game.
It was no surprise that there was no ambush waiting for us! By the lights on Upper Sutton St a couple of people were carrying a Palestinian flag but they were no issue and anyway that was not in the park.
I can only assume they relented when the game finished as there are hundreds if not thousands that head past Aston Hall. UTV
