On the beat on match day (From Daily Echo)

On the beat on match day

12:18pm Tuesday 2nd February 2010 in

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In my recent entry here about the coming Saints v Pompey derby game at least one comment queried my statement that I was looking forward to the day.

Where will I be? At home or in a cosy office, seemed to be the challenge.

In the same way when I was talking earlier about problems in the City centre at night it was suggested that maybe I never trouble myself with actually experiencing the policing of the so called 'night time economy' (I'd rather call it what it is: City centre alcohol-fuelled violence, which incidentally is reducing).

I'm not trying to look clever but in fact, and in common with many other senior officers including our Chief Constable, I do go out on patrol.

On February 13, I will be at the stadium as part of the police operation - not just to watch the game - and I regularly go out on patrol in the city centre late at night and work weekends.

I wish I could do it more often but a lot of my work does tie me to the office and the computer.

I know officers and police staff in the City like to see leaders getting out and about.

I think what they really like is when we are on patrol with them as long as we are actually with someone else on their team!

Planning for the derby game continues. We are talking to the pubs and clubs about their plans. Inevitably these can be places where problems might take place.

For many fans having a couple of drinks as part of the occasion is great but some will over do it and we'll deal with that.

We are, and will continue, talking to residents and businesses about any concerns they have. When the new stadium opened the club and police did a lot of work reassuring the stadium's neighbours who were worried about the impact of the new ground.

Of course 20-30,000 people passing through an area brings some problems but generally week in, week out games are peaceful and many of the fears were unfounded.

I think the same may well be true on February 13.

I'm not naive or sticking my head in the sand, I just believe that the thousands of good fans will dominate the day and the good club and police operation will tackle any problems.

I am sure readers will be the first to tell me if I am wrong.