Nuclear safety and bio-hazard barriers used to separate rival fans leaving football match

Barriers used during nuclear or biological incidents have been deployed to disperse rival football fans leaving a match.

About 150 officers, and mounted police from South Wales, were at the game at Home Park between Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers on Saturday. A police spokesman said it was a category B match, which carried a "potential threat of disorder".



Officers used the barriers to allow fans to leave quickly and safely. A spokesman from Devon and Cornwall Police said it was the first time the force had used them at a game. He said the barriers, which are metal and about 15ft (4.5m) high and 65ft (20m) long, helped them clear fans from the area outside Home Park stadium.

After the match, Acting Supt Brendan Brookshaw, said: "Everything went according to plan with a really good crowd. Just two people were arrested. We need to evaluate it fully, but my initial reaction was the barriers were very successful. There was no violence and no disorder in the area where we usually get problems." The barriers are stored in Exeter and were put up during the game.