By Mark Baber
February 28 – Louis Cooper, the 15 year old Hull City supporter, has taken the next legal steps against the West Yorkshire police and their decision to restrict travel and tickets for Hull fans for the upcoming Huddersfield game March 30.
It is increasingly likely the police position will be subject to judicial review.
On Wednesday, Deighton Pierce Glynn , solicitors acting on behalf of 15 year old Hull City supporter, Louis Cooper, sent a Judicial Review Letter before Claim to the temporary chief constable of West Yorkshire Police (WYP).
The match between Huddersfield and Hull, due to kick off at 5.20 at the request of Sky TV, has been designated at the highest level of risk to public safety by the WYP. The WYP have imposed a restriction of 1,500 tickets for away fans and stipulated fans may only travel to the game using designated official club transport departing and returning to Hull.
The restrictions are understood to have been put in place due to fears 200-300 Hull City fans would turn up in Huddersfield mid-morning and have an extra 2 hours to drink before the kick-off.
Louis Cooper who is 15 years old, and therefore not able to drink alcohol legally, travels to most home and away games. He lives in Manchester and the restrictions proposed by the police mean that he would have to travel on a train through Huddersfield to Hull before embarking on an official coach back to Huddersfield. He would have to take the same journey on his return, meaning he would not arrive back in the centre of Manchester before 11.37pm.
Not a single Hull City fan has been arrested for a drink related offence in the past year, there is no history of rivalry between Hull and Huddersfield and the commander for the game has publicly stated that the police are not saying people from Hull, who have amongst the lowest number of arrests and ejections from grounds in the Football League, “can’t be trusted to behave”.
According to the Letter before Claim, the overriding concern of the WYP seems to be the cost of policing the game, with the designation of the game as high risk allowing increased costs recovery for the police.
The decision of the WYP to impose the restrictions are being challenged on the following grounds: the common law right of people to go about their lawful business unimpeded by authority, unless expressly prohibited from doing so; the decision is irrational given the good behaviour of Hull City fans; disproportionate interference with the human right to a private life.
The legal advisers write that they expect the WYP to reduce the categorisation of the match to the lowest designation, to remove the restrictions imposed and if necessary to designate ‘away pubs’ for Hull fans, failing which they are likely to seek judicial review on an urgent basis.
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