Increased police presence ahead of Crewe Alexandra’s match against Wrexham
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Officers will be out in force this weekend ahead of Crewe Alexandra’s match against Wrexham.
The upcoming fixture takes place on Saturday 20 April, kicking off at 12.30pm at the Gresty Road stadium in Crewe.
Fans will see an increased police presence in and around Crewe to ensure those attending the match can do so safely and have an enjoyable day. There will also be mounted police in attendance in and around the ground.
Cheshire Police has worked with local train companies to ensure additional train services are provided to aid in fans travelling to and from the game.
It is likely there will also be increased traffic on the roads which may cause delays, so the wider community should try and avoid the area if possible.
Due to the expected number of Wrexham fans attending, there will be two designated away fan pubs; The Imperial on Edleston Road and Duke of Bridgewater on Wistaston Road.
At this time, there are no planned road closures, but this is subject to change on the day, dependant on the circumstances. Any updates about road closures will be placed on the Crewe Police and Crewe Alex Police social media pages, as well as through announcements within the stadium.
A dispersal order will be in place from 8am until 10pm on Saturday 20 April to tackle any disorder that may arise.
The dispersal order has been imposed under Section 35 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Dispersal orders make it an offence for anyone to return to a specific area for up to 48 hours.
The areas covered by the order are indicated by the highlighted mapped areas which will be provided to anyone issued with a direction to leave.
There will also be a Section 60 AA order in place which gives officers the power to request the removal and/or seize facial coverings or masks that are being used to conceal an identity. Failure to do this could result in arrest.
This will be in place between 8am until 7pm on Saturday 20 April and also covers the areas highlighted in the attached two maps.
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Superintendent Claire Jesson, who is leading the operation this weekend, said:
“We know that the vast majority of fans will watch the game this weekend peacefully and I look forward to seeing all fans enjoying the match, however a strong policing operation is essential to ensure the event runs smoothly and to prevent any disorder.
"We have worked closely with CAFC and the supporters' group to develop our operational plan.
“You will see an increased police presence in the area - this has all been put in place to reassure the community and ensure all supporters enjoy the match safely.
“Please remember to not only respect supporters of both teams, but also the residents who live in the vicinity of the stadium, and local businesses.
“We will not stand for any disorder and our officers will be on the lookout for anyone intent on causing harm to ensure that they are dealt with appropriately.
“I would urge anyone who witnesses any anti-social behaviour or disorder to please speak with officers and they will do all they can to assist.
“You can also report any concerns to Cheshire Police via 101.”