Your World of Legal Intelligence
 United Kingdom | +44 (0) 20 7284 8080

Millwall cafe can't sell booze before Coventry match as Met Police fear 'violent' clash before game

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date13 August 2022
Publication titleMyLondon (England)
PC Gillian Pearce from Lewisham Police said rowdy banter which sees supporters banging on the windows of away team coaches could escalate into violence if fans were intoxicated. She said there was no need for a bar opposite Millwall’s stadium, The Den, as supporters could already buy drinks inside the ground

Reading from a statement written by PC Sam Moore from the Metropolitan Police’s football unit, she said: “What is usually seen is some inter-rivalry banter when the coaches come across the stadium into Bolina Road which generally sees some banging on the windows, anti-social behaviour. It can escalate to supporters exiting coaches to engage in disorder or violence.

READ MORE: Sports club backing onto Dulwich homes can hold events with 150 people until 1.30am

“This occurs while no alcohol is being drunk so if there’s alcohol being drunk and those people are then exiting the coaches and this is happening with the supporters then this has the propensity to escalate into violence.”

PC Pearce added that the football club itself didn’t want the cafe to sell booze to fans. She added: “Millwall Football Club do not want this to go ahead. The football ground has got its own licensed bar. They’re used to dealing with football crowds so they already have their club. Why would we need another drinking venue that is directly outside”

But Tara Grimes said she’d never experienced trouble from fans in her years working at The Millwall Cafe opposite the stadium. She said: “We’ve never had no trouble. I work in the cafe and get on with everybody. I have nothing but respect for all the Millwall supporters which I know quite a lot of.

“I don’t think there will be any trouble regarding selling alcohol from there. They will be eating and...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT