Police charge 12 fans following disorder at Luton v Millwall FA Cup clash

PUBLISHED: 13:04 EST, 14 August 2013 | UPDATED: 13:06 EST, 14 August 2013

Police have charged 12 men with public order-related offences in connection with incidents which took place following the FA Cup 5th round tie between Luton and Millwall.

Bedfordshire Police said that, prior to kick-off at the match at Luton’s Kenilworth Road ground on February 16, there was a 'short stand-off' between officers and a minority of fans in the areas of Dudley Street and Old Bedford Road.

Security measures: Police escort fans to Kenilworth Road

Security measures: Police escort fans to Kenilworth Road

Police escort the Millwall fans to the station

Following the game, a number of incidents also took place in the town centre, a force spokeswoman said.

Bedfordshire Police led a large operation surrounding the hotly-anticipated fixture, which Millwall won 3-0, with officers from six forces involved.

The police were primed for possible trouble, with 300 officers on duty, because a previous cup tie between the sides descended into violence in 1985 - an event which became known as the Kenilworth Road Riot.

A total of 12 men, ranging in age from 19 to 39, will appear before magistrates in Luton today.
Four men have been charged with affray. They are Christopher Fowler, 36, of Chantry Avenue, Kempston; Benjamin Currington, 25, of Clifton Road, Shefford; Nicky Sanders, 21, of Whipperly Way, Luton; and Tyrone Fuge, 39, of Lowther Road, Dunstable.

No chances: Police escort the Millwall fans to the station

No chances: Police escort the Millwall fans to the station

Three and easy: Dany N'Guessan wraps up win

Three and easy: Dany N'Guessan wraps up win

Six men have been charged with one count of Section 5 public order. They are Daniel O’Keefe, 19, of Aldbanks, Dunstable; Aaron Timms, 19, of Stewartby Way, Stewartby; Grant Mitchell, 19, of Parys Road, Luton; Joshua Plumb, 19, of St Leonards Street, Bedford; Kevin Davis, 33, of Queensdale Crescent, Shepherd’s Bush, west London; and Thomas Howson, 19, of Mentmore Crescent, Dunstable.

Liam Jones, 26, of Chapel Street in Luton, has been charged with one offence of Section 5 public order and being drunk and disorderly, while Ben Smith, 25, of Williams Way in Flitwick, has been charged with being drunk and disorderly.

Together with the Bedfordshire force, officers from Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, the Metropolitan Police Service, mounted officers from Thames Valley Police and British Transport Police were involved in policing the fixture between Luton and Millwall, and ensuring that fans of the south London club travelled safely.

During the Kenilworth Road Riot, the football ground was ransacked, and there were running battles between police and supporters, ending with 31 arrests.

 

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