A dispersal order will be put in place as Middlesbrough welcomes Chelsea for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Cleveland Police say they are working closely with Middlesbrough Football Club to ensure the safety and security of fans and the local community during today's(Tuesday, January 8) match at the Riverside Stadium.
A dispersal order will be put in place from 3.00pm until 11.00pm on Tuesday January 9.
The order covers the area around the stadium (pictured below) including; River Tees Deepwater Wharf, Cargo Fleet Lane (A171), Longlands Road (A1085), Marton Road, Park Road South, Valley Road onto Cumberland Road, Devonshire Road, Roman Road, Ayresome Green Lane, Heywood Street (A1032), Newport Bridge Approach Road (A1032), Newport Bridge and the River Tees.
The dispersal order gives police the power to order groups to leave the area immediately. Those who return to the area during the specified time period can be arrested for breaching the order.
Match Commander, Chief Superintendent Dave Sutherland, said: “We’re sure all Middlesbrough and Chelsea fans will be looking forward to watching the match and recognise the majority will be law-abiding people who simply want to enjoy the football.
“We understand that football often involves competitiveness between fans supporting different teams and that is natural, but there is no place in football, or our communities, for disorder, violence or hate crime.
Recommended reading:
- Families of murdered teens to walk onto pitch with anti-knife campaign at derby
- Fake Greek documents intercepted in post for Albanian man at County Durham address
- EXCLUSIVE | Rap TikTok mum of murdered teen says son's killer filmed from jail taken down
Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.50 a week. Click here.
“There is never an excuse, and Cleveland Police will deal robustly with anyone committing these offences through prosecution and football banning orders. Ultimately, we want to ensure all supporters can have a safe and enjoyable time.”
Anyone with information regarding crime or disorder associated with this match is encouraged to call Cleveland Police on 101.
Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phone on 0800 555 111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here