CELEBRATIONS following Saints' Cup semi-final triumph over Widnes were marred on Saturday as high-spirited fans left Central Park and headed for home.

A total of 31 Saints fans were arrested for Violent Disorder following the semi-final clash, but some Saints fans claim that the ugly scenes were caused by the police officers themselves.

The St Helens Star received a number of complaints about the police from fans, including one from one of the Saints player's wives who was travelling home on the 6.15pm train from Wigan after the match with her six-year-old son, her sister and her six-year-old nephew.

The player's wife, who does not want to be named, claimed: "The fans were in high spirits on the platform, but as far as I could see there wasn't any real trouble. Things seemed to get out of hand when one man was singled out of the crowd by the police and handcuffed. He was thrown to the floor and three policemen then set about him with truncheons - he was completely defenceless, he was handcuffed and on his stomach. This event happened just three feet away from where I was standing with my son and we were both shaken.

"The whole thing seemed to flare up from there on in and even when we got on the train the situation still wasn't resolved. Police were getting on to the carriages and dragging people off and those who tried to calm the situation down by talking to the police seemed to be arrested for their efforts.

"Yes, people did start to mouth off at the police, but only when their efforts to calm the situation were rejected."

She added: "At one point I asked a policeman who got on to the train when we would be setting off, he replied, 'would you like to get off the train madam'.

"When I replied no, he said, 'Are you quite happy to travel with these hooligans, do you feel safe?'.

"I again said yes and promptly told him that I thought the police presence wasn't making matters any easier and that the situation might calm down if they were to leave the train."

Gerard Hardman, 38, of St Helens, had taken his 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son to watch the match along with six other dads and 10 other children, all members of Blackbrook Royals Under-10s.

He claims: "We arrived at the station at 6.15pm and at that time there were a lot of fans on the platform and the police were indiscriminately pulling men out from the crowd for singing and shouting and were treating them quite roughly.

"When we finally managed to get on the train myself and my companions had to stand up as there was no room to sit down. Most of us had the children in front of us so that we could keep them safe.

"But unfortunately one of the kids was upset after a policeman accidentally hit him with his truncheon which he was using to make a path through the crowd of people stood up on the train as he made his way to a man who was shouting. "I was also accosted by a policeman when I stepped off the train to try and make some room for the children. A policeman grabbed me and said, "Where do you think you're going?". I explained what I was doing and he let go of me, but both of my children were distressed as they had witnessed officers manhandling a couple of men who had been separated from the crowd and thought I was going to be arrested in the same violent manner.

"I admit there were some unruly people in the crowd, but no more than at any other event of this kind, and the situation certainly didn't warrant such behaviour from the police."

St Helens college lecturer David Owen, 49, from Prescot, has supported Saints for more than 30 years and in that time he says he has never seen fans treated in this way. He alleged: "I was standing by a couple of young policemen who seemed determined to nail some of the lads. All of a sudden they grabbed one bloke from a group of about six and dragged him roughly down the stairs.

"Another young lad had his coat ripped after he was dragged off the train from in front of me.

"I realise that you do get some idiots at events like this but honestly was there any really need to handle the situation like this? Yes, some of the fans were boisterous, but heavy handed tactics used by the police on Saturday were completely out of order."

Other angry fans phoned our office to confirm their claims

Sergeant Cheetham who was the senior officer in charge from Wigan Transport Police on the day, said: "Yes, I can appreciate that some people may think the police handled the situation badly, but they may not have seen all the events leading up to the eventual scenes of chaos and may not have all the facts to get a balanced opinion about the events on the day.

"I don't know exactly what sparked the trouble and I didn't expect the trouble we had on Saturday.

"I do know that a male person was arrested and a number of people appeared incensed and became threatening towards officers on duty.

"Assistance had to be obtained from Greater Manchester Police and a number of people were arrested for acts of Public Disorder.

"This isn't the sort of behaviour we would expect from fans returning home after a game and I hope we never see anything like this again."

Inspector Stephen Ingham of British Transport Police said: "The first incident happened at 6.20pm. Some 200 St Helens supporters were on the station after previous trouble in the town. Serious disorder broke out and a total of 17 men were arrested by British Transport Police and Greater Manchester Police.

"At 8pm a group of 40 St Helens supporters, who had previously been involved in incidents in the town, returned to Wigan North Western station. Further disorder broke out and 14 people were arrested.

"The prisoners were all from the St Helens area and aged between 17 and 40. Four were released to be reported for summons, the remainder - who were all arrested for Public Disorder - have been bailed to return to police stations on April 24."

He added: "A British Transport Police sergeant was treated at hospital for broken bones in his hand."

St Helens Rugby League Club chief executive, David Howes, said of the events after Saturday's match: "We are very proud of our club's reputation and will take every step to maintain it. In the meantime the arrested fans have the right to a fair court hearing.

"We will liaise with police after the court cases have been heard to find out how we can work with them in the future and make match days safer for fans."

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