Concern continues about Policing Costs around Edgar Street

Graham Turner is still very concerned over the attempts by West Mercia Police to try to recover costs for match day policing around Hereford United's Edgar Street stadium.

He takes up the issue in today's Hereford Times.

Off the pitch, our difficulties with West Mercia Police continue.

Bills have started to arrive from them for policing the vicinity of the stadium.

This is where we differ greatly from West Mercia Police’s view of what can be charged for.

I can understand the need for clubs to recompense their particular police force when they operate inside the ground or on property owned, or controlled, by the club.

But, following a meeting of all league chairmen, when police costs were on the agenda, it would appear that we are the only club in the country being pursued for vicinity charges.

Maybe the object of it all is to test one small club out to see what their resolve and access to good legal advice is.

And if the case is won by the police, it will escalate to all clubs.

Bills totalling more than £20,000 so far have arrived in the office. On the basis that it is the principle that we are talking about and not the actual level of costs, we continue to believe that we need to contest it with all vigour.

If, in the worst case scenario, it does progress to a High Court action, then I can imagine the costs will be considerable.

In the meantime, we will continue to work with our solicitors to fight our corner.

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