West Ham's request for police help at the London Stadium rejected
They asked for help after yet more trouble at the 4-2 home defeat to Watford
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Your support makes all the difference.West Ham’s London Stadium will not have an immediate police presence despite the recent trouble at the ground, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed.
The Hammers moved into the £700m Olympic Stadium during the summer after leaving Upton Park, despite the controversy around the deal.
However, there have been unsavoury incidents involving West Ham fans at each of the last three home games with the club confirming that ten fans were ejected from the stadium during last weekend’s 4-2 defeat to Watford.
As a result, the club asked E20, which owns the stadium, to ensure there is a police presence at the ground – as well as requesting more experienced stewards from the company LS185.
But their request has been denied by the Metropolitan Police because there is no satisfactory radio system across the ground.
All emergency services and more than 300 public safety services in Britain communicate via the Airwave radio system.
The Met also said it is the responsibility of the stadium operators and not the police to deal with “disorderly behaviour that has not reached the level of criminality”.
Deputy assistant commissioner Peter Terry said: "Until there is comprehensive radio coverage officers will not be routinely deployed within it.
“The MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) is not able to provide Special Policing Services at this time as it would normally, as there is no satisfactory radio system across the ground.
"The stadium operators are responsible for the safety and comfort of their customers and staff.
"This issue was highlighted to the stadium operators in October 2014 and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has been in negotiation with stadium operators regarding the provision of Airwave radio inside the stadium.
"During this time, the MPS had spoken to the stadium operators several times to highlight the consequences of not installing such a system.
"The MPS is not able to provide Special Policing Services at this time as it would normally, as there is no satisfactory radio system across the ground."
Saturday’s incident was not the first time the stadium has experienced trouble, with fighting breaking out at the first game of the season against Bournemouth while some fans arrived with tickets for seats that did not exist.
The Hammers have also received seven complaints over persistent standing during matches.
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