BRAWL WATCH
Newbury steps up security in bid to prevent violence
SeCURITY will be stepped up at today’s newbury meeting, with the potential for antisocial behaviour raised by the warm weather, Royal Wedding celebrations and the FA Cup final.
Course officials are ‘very aware’ of the recent brawls at Goodwood and Ascot and will have an increased team of stewards in high- visibility clothing to try to prevent similar outbreaks of violence.
Sniffer dogs, police officers and drug amnesty bins will also be in place and staff will hand out bottled water around the track.
In what appears to be an unprecedented move, security staff will monitor areas around the men’s toilets, in an effort to deter recreational drug use.
Up to 14,000 racegoers are due to attend today’s Al Shaqab Lockinge Day, with many expected to arrive early to watch the Royal Wedding on the big screens before racing begins.
But while football is sometimes broadcast at the Berkshire track, the FA Cup final will not be shown today following risk assessment meetings. Rival football fans clashed at Goodwood this month, while Swansea and Cardiff City supporters brawled at newbury in 2012. A spokesman for the track told
Sportsmail: ‘The decision was made several months ago that we wouldn’t have the FA Cup final shown on any screens around the course. We want to mitigate circumstances as much as we can.’
But an ‘after-party’ featuring live music will take place while it is going on, which could increase the risk of violence.
Some bars will remain open until 6.45pm, meaning racegoers could be drinking at the course for almost eight hours.
The spokesman also revealed that a team of ‘bar-spotters’ will identify drunken behaviour and assess whether to eject people from the course.
Asked what additional measures they had taken in light of the fights at Goodwood and Ascot, he said: ‘ We have got a greater presence on course of security staff in high-visibility clothing. Of the potential weakpoint areas, which have been identified in recent incidents, we will look at ensuring we are more diligent around those areas. For example, men’s loos queues. Part of the stewarding in high visibility will be seen around those areas.’