Metropolitan Police enforce dispersal order for Millwall vs West Ham match
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that a Section 35 dispersal order will be enforced in the vicinity of The Den this Saturday for the Championship encounter between Millwall and West Ham United, reports BritPanorama.
Officers will have enhanced authority to direct individuals away from the New Cross and Bermondsey area surrounding the ground if there are reasonable grounds to believe they may contribute to disorder or anti-social behaviour. Those instructed to leave the zone face a prohibition on returning for up to 48 hours.
The early kick-off is scheduled for 12.30pm on September 19, with the fixture representing one of the most eagerly anticipated south-east London derbies in recent memory. A Metropolitan Police spokesman outlined the measures in place for the fixture. “As with any fixture, the Sporting Events Act 1985 is in place, which means entering or attempting to enter a ground while intoxicated is strictly prohibited,” the spokesman said.
The force also detailed the scope of the dispersal powers. “A Section 35 dispersal order will also be in place, allowing officers to remove anyone causing disorder,” the spokesman added. The legislation and dispersal authority together grant police a robust toolkit to maintain public safety and prevent trouble before, during, and after the match.
Saturday’s contest will be the first Dockers Derby in 14 years, with the two sides last meeting in February 2012 at Upton Park, where the Hammers prevailed 2-1. Remarkably, it will also mark the 100th competitive fixture between these fierce rivals. Millwall holds the superior record historically, claiming 38 victories compared to West Ham’s 34, with 27 matches ending level.
Alex Neil’s Lions currently occupy 11th place in the Championship after securing three wins, three defeats, and a draw from their opening seven matches, including Tuesday’s 2-2 stalemate at Middlesbrough. West Ham, meanwhile, sit atop the division with fourteen points from seven outings.
As anticipation builds for the return of this historic encounter, the potential for tension heightens, reminding fans just how much is at stake when local rivals clash.
