Traffic police waiting game
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IT is unclear if police will maintain their usual traffic management role at Saturday's Ross County game against Motherwell, a fortnight after the club raised serious safety concerns if the presence was lost.
Police have reinterpreted the legislation governing the role of officers patrolling traffic at football and other pre-planned public events, saying they would only deal with traffic management “at emergencies or crime scenes”.
They feel they have no authority to hold up vehicles without a council-issued temporary traffic regulation order, which costs clubs £1120 per game and needs to be arranged well in advance.
Ross County official David O’Connor, a retired senior policeman, sparked a passionate debate when he raised concerns about fans’ safety in the event of officers not managing traffic.
The force did, however, provide the service at last Saturday’s Caley Thistle game against Dunfermline Athletic where numerous fans were witnessed racing across the A9 to reach the stadium.
Mr O’Connor said: “The matter is still being discussed with Highland Council and Police Scotland.”
