A young man who repeatedly refused to remove a face covering when asked by police seeking to prevent trouble before the Carlisle-Barrow football derby has been fined for what a magistrate called “truculent” behaviour.
Officers were on patrol in Carlisle’s Rickerby Park before the eagerly-awaited League Two fixture on the evening of January 31.
A large number of males were in that area at around 7-10pm shortly before the match kick-off at nearby Brunton Park.
Within the group there were believed to be a number of known “risk” Barrow followers.
Police seeking to identify would-be troublemakers made use of Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 legislation. This allows officers to require any person to remove items which they suspect are being used to conceal all or part of their identity.
Khian Murt, 21, was one member of the Barrow group and was asked to remove a snood covering his face. He refused to do so despite being warned of consequences and a second request was made by an officer.
“When he didn’t comply with that direction again, he was arrested,” prosecutor Lee Dacre told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.
One other member of the Barrow group was found to be the subject of a football banning order, which imposes matchday movement restrictions.
When Murt, of Urswick Green, Barrow, appeared in court he admitted a charge of failing to remove an item worn on demand by a police constable. He had previous convictions for assault, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly, the court heard.
Jeff Smith, giving mitigation, said the defendant wasn’t aware of the “unusual” legislation but accepted: “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.”
Magistrates imposed a £100 fine plus costs. ”It is a particularly truculent, un-co-operative attitude,” said lead magistrate Jeff Forster of the offence.
Ahead of the Carlisle v Barrow derby, which the hosts won 5-1 in front of a bumper 9,000-plus crowd, police had urged spectators to act responsibly. Chief superintendent Lisa Hogan had stated: “Where an individual engages in unlawful behaviour, the police will step in and take action.”
