Police Praise Fans After Peaceful South Coast Derby at St Mary’s

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has praised football fans and local communities for their cooperation during yesterday’s South Coast derby, which saw Southampton FC take on Portsmouth FC in a historic league clash at St Mary’s Stadium.

The match, the first league meeting between the two rivals in 13 years, had been widely anticipated and drew significant attention across Hampshire. Despite the fierce rivalry, police confirmed that the event passed without any major incidents or disorder.

In a statement released today, Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson, who served as Gold Commander for the operation, credited the success of the day to a collective effort.

“I am pleased to say that the match passed without any disorder, and that is thanks to the hard work of all those involved in the planning for this game,” he said.

“From the beginning, this has been a fully collaborative undertaking, and I would like to thank both football clubs, their fans, and the local community for supporting our part of those plans.

“We ensured our operation mirrored the approach taken by the clubs, to help ensure fans felt safe and that the football was the focus of the day.”

ACC Rowlinson also praised the work of officers and staff on duty, calling their professionalism and commitment “incredible.”

“I’m also incredibly proud of the professionalism and dedication my officers and staff have shown throughout to achieve that.

“It was a highly-anticipated derby that sparked great excitement across the two cities, and we were proud to play our part in helping to keep everyone safe.”

Hampshire Constabulary had deployed a significant policing presence in and around the stadium, with additional support in the city centres of both Southampton and Portsmouth. Authorities confirmed there were no significant arrests or incidents reported during or after the match.

A video highlighting the policing operation has since been released by the force, visit: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website.

The result of the match may have divided fans on the pitch, but off the pitch, both communities and authorities are calling it a win for safety and cooperation.