Security checks on Way into Eco

[Donnywolf]

Been meaning to Post this / ask this since last home game v Terriers


As I was queueing to get in the Stewards ( I won't put Turnstile Number ) were patting people down and using a Metal Detecting Wand


I'm all in favour of that but in the queue I'm front of me was a Man and his 2 Children , I'll guess 8 and 6 and the Man carried a bag presumably with food and drinks and the Steweard asked him to stand to one side so he could look more closely at the contents


However and this is my question the Steward then turned his attention to the 2 Children and checked them over , including with the Metal Detector but is that legal as I understood people under 16 were not allowed to be searched and maybe the Steward wasn't aware of that rule ?


In seconds the boys were through the Turnstile and I didn't realize that their Dad was now separated from them , and I was being examined. A small badge on my arm beeped , but was deemed ok. My top breast pocket also beeped and he asked what is in there. Keys I said which I thought was true.


I need to see , so I opened the zip and pulled out a pack of Sweeteners and a pack of tissues and he said "OK" . He then turned to a bag I was carrying and inside was a Tub of Celebrations which he wanted to look in. I said it's sealed and showed him the tape , so although that is not really good enough to take my word , he let me in


The young lads were waiting inside and then I realized , damn , I should have let the dad in before I went in , so I stayed with the lads until their Dad satisfied the Stewards. He said thanks and as we went in I said " I don't mean to be nosy but are you sure the Steward should have searched your boys and he said , well no , I thought there was limit but wasn't sure "


I said I'm sure it's 16 because I've read that's how Flares etc get into Grounds as the Under 16s carry them in and any other articles and so avoid detection before handing them over to other "grown ups" once inside BUT is that true ?


I promised him at the time I would post on here for the more knowledgeable to confirm I / we were right and if yes the Club can pass the message to the relevant people

[Bentley Bullet]

According to Google, there is no specific minimum age set by law for when a person can be searched at a football match in the UK; rather, searching is a condition of entry for all supporters, regardless of age, to ensure safety.

The subject reminds me of a few years back in the Belle Vue Bar when I told Scawsby Steve that flares weren't allowed. He went home and changed his trousers.

[Filo]

Same game, yet again I was searched and wanded, wand detected something in my hoody pocket, whats that he says, car keys I say, let me look he says, so I pull them out of my pocket and tell him I come in a car, before he just ignorantly waves me away, these contracted stewards are proper knobs

[jamesrover17]

Same game, yet again I was searched and wanded, wand detected something in my hoody pocket, whats that he says, car keys I say, let me look he says, so I pull them out of my pocket and tell him I come in a car, before he just ignorantly waves me away, these contracted stewards are proper knobs

I had the same earlier on in the season, I have one of those metal RFID wallets, I got asked why I had brought my car keys and a wallet to the football... Absolute beggars belief

[Dagenham Rover]

there was an incident as I went in. Somebody had obviously complained a lady supervisor came up to the bloke with the wand pulled him to one side and said show me exactly what you did

[ss1953]

How do we stop people bringing in pyros?

[Park Rover]

What frustrates me about these searches, and it happened again yesterday at Rotherham. Why don’t they use a bit of common sense and use targeted searching instead of blanket searching everyone. I’m a 64 year old man and yesterday I was in the queue behind a lady who must have been at least 75, yes we were both thoroughly searched. Absolutely ridiculous, we really are not going to bring flares or any other contraband into a ground

[Rupee92ONLY]

That’s just nonsense. You should get searched the exact same as any fan should. Can a 64 year old not carry a flare or offensive weapon in with them?

Ethel might be bang at it with the pyro.

[curley]

I refused a search at Eco a couple of games ago because the steward did not have a SIA licence on display he backed off as soon as i mentioned that he should have one on display.

[Reg of the Rovers]

According to Google, there is no specific minimum age set by law for when a person can be searched at a football match in the UK; rather, searching is a condition of entry for all supporters, regardless of age, to ensure safety.

The subject reminds me of a few years back in the Belle Vue Bar when I told Scawsby Steve that flares weren't allowed. He went home and changed his trousers.

No tie-dye, no party.

[Donnywolf]

Agree and I too am now mid 70s but don't mind if it stops Pyros getting in , but as someone pointed out last Game , when did the last Flare get thrown from either the East or West Stands

It doesn't meam they wont one day but a point about my OP , the Steward took my word for it that my Box of Celebrations were just that.

If I had wanted to get something in he shouldn't have taken me at my word when I said look they still have the tape sealing them .

Nor should he have been happy when the beeper went off over my top pocket and he wanted to see what was in there and I produced Tissues and Sweeteners even though.machine said "metal"

Maybe he applied common sense but then he had just "searched" the 2 young lads which didnt seem common sense to me

[Drover]

According to Google, there is no specific minimum age set by law for when a person can be searched at a football match in the UK; rather, searching is a condition of entry for all supporters, regardless of age, to ensure safety.

The subject reminds me of a few years back in the Belle Vue Bar when I told Scawsby Steve that flares weren't allowed. He went home and changed his trousers.

A couple of Bicycle clips would have sorted that,the plastic ones though,metal ones would set detectors off!

[monkeytennis]

It’s all theatre. These poorly trained stewards would undoubtedly miss a real threat from a determined individual.

Also I’ve only ever seen pyros thrown from the away end.

[Scooter]

I go all over with my lad. Home and away every league game this season and he is 15. They ask his age because he looks older. When he says 15 they just ask him to open his coat and empty his pockets. He has never been searched ‘properly’ yet

[DonnyRover]

Umbrella discrimination also rife at the eco power, golf umbrella’s not allowed but all other umbrellas are, do they think you’re a chancer that’s been waiting for it to piss it down to javelin a brolly at the opposing players?

[redwine]

That’s just nonsense. You should get searched the exact same as any fan should. Can a 64 year old not carry a flare or offensive weapon in with them?

Ethel might be bang at it with the pyro.

Ethel would be too busy getting in a free shot.

One for the oldies amongst us.

[IDM]

It’s all theatre. These poorly trained stewards would undoubtedly miss a real threat from a determined individual.

Also I’ve only ever seen pyros thrown from the away end.

You didn’t go to the last season promotion winning home game then.?  Pyros chucked by bell ends from the SS..

[Janso]

According to Google, there is no specific minimum age set by law for when a person can be searched at a football match in the UK; rather, searching is a condition of entry for all supporters, regardless of age, to ensure safety.

The subject reminds me of a few years back in the Belle Vue Bar when I told Scawsby Steve that flares weren't allowed. He went home and changed his trousers.

Not saying you're wrong but as someone who's carted younger relatives to games for years now, they always get asked their age and the one who's still under 16 always gets waved through. Might not be a specific law but maybe something whoever is in charge of security decide on.

[Donnywolf]

Yes agree with you. Found Wolves article that announced everyone over 14 will be subject to examination for the 25/26 Season

So it does look as if Clubs have the discretion to choose what "rules" they want to impose

Maybe SM or LR can mark our card , but I think we should not really be paying attention to youngsters who even if I got their ages wrong were surely no more than 8 and 10

[rich1471]

I go all over with my lad. Home and away every league game this season and he is 15. They ask his age because he looks older. When he says 15 they just ask him to open his coat and empty his pockets. He has never been searched ‘properly’ yet

they are not allowed to search him until he is 16

[Donnywolf]

That's at odds with first reply today though and why Im interested in finding the true answer

The best I've found is Stadiums can br classed as Private Land and apply certain rules to their specific needs

I.will look again for it

[roversdude]

https://www.swbmacademy.co.uk/post/when-can-children-be-searched-an-expert-guide-to-uk-law-for-parents-guardians-and-security-teams#:~:text=Security%20personnel%20or%20others%20do,under%20the%20Terrorism%20Act%202000).

[Donnywolf]

Cheers Rd ... That's the one I found originally .

[roversdude]

My understanding from that and accompanying my lad to games is that he was always asked if he was 16 (still asked occasionally) quite often he was then asked if he minded being searched but there was never any compulsory searches

[Goole Rover]

Agree and I too am now mid 70s but don't mind if it stops Pyros getting in , but as someone pointed out last Game , when did the last Flare get thrown from either the East or West Stands

It doesn't meam they wont one day but a point about my OP , the Steward took my word for it that my Box of Celebrations were just that.

If I had wanted to get something in he shouldn't have taken me at my word when I said look they still have the tape sealing them .

Nor should he have been happy when the beeper went off over my top pocket and he wanted to see what was in there and I produced Tissues and Sweeteners even though.machine said "metal"

Maybe he applied common sense but then he had just "searched" the 2 young lads which didnt seem common sense to me

You will remember Wolfie where we hid stuff when going into no alcohol Student Union dances. The flat whiskey bottles could be carried in the most private places.

[silent majority]

Yes agree with you. Found Wolves article that announced everyone over 14 will be subject to examination for the 25/26 Season

So it does look as if Clubs have the discretion to choose what "rules" they want to impose

Maybe SM or LR can mark our card , but I think we should not really be paying attention to youngsters who even if I got their ages wrong were surely no more than 8 and 10

I spent years working with Amanda at the FSF when she was the lead on Policing and Stewarding, and it was never more frustrating than having to cope with 'interpretation'  when speaking to clubs and safety officers on matters such as this. Remember you're on private land and wanting access to a private business therefore the alternative to a search would be refusal to admit you if they wished.

The generally accepted rule is that the stewards should seek permission to search someone under the age of 16, but as I say refusal would mean no entry.

We were always quite pleased that DRFC employed its own stewards therefore having some kind of consistency on standards and behaviour, but following on from Covid there's been a national shortage of stewards so everybody has reverted to agency stewards to fill the gaps.

[Donnywolf]

Cheers Martin.

Is there any avenue or way to an agreement with the Club on a minimum age

I must admit I was shocked to see the 2 young lads scrutinised at their ages and moreso them getting separated from their dad as they went in and he didnt

I should have been more aware and let him go before me

However I know they are trying to stop prohibited items and I willingly cooperate but was disappointed at the "quality" of the inspection for the reasons stated in opening Post and in a way Im not surprised that Flares etc do get in if that is the standard they operate to