28 fans charged over Shrewsbury football fans violence
Twenty-eight football supporters have been charged over major disorder in Shrewsbury town centre that left a police officer with a broken leg, it was revealed today.
Rival groups linked with Shrewsbury and Walsall were involved in serious fighting in Mardol and Smithfield Road before the match on October 14.
Three police officers were injured as they tried to bring the violence under control.
A total of 15 men from Shropshire and the West Midlands were arrested on the day, with a six-month police investigation resulting in others being arrested after hours of CCTV footage were examined.
Following the extensive investigation, 28 men and youths will now face charges of violent disorder or other public order offences.
They were charged after answering bail last week and will appear before Shrewsbury magistrates on several dates, starting on April 29. One other man is expected to be charged at a later date.
Eighteen are from Shropshire and 11 from the West Midlands, with the majority charged with violent disorder and others with obstructing a police officer and assault.
Superintendent James Tozer, Shropshire's police commander, said: "We work very closely with our partner agencies and in particular with Shrewsbury Town Football Club to prevent and reduce instances of football-related violence and disorder.
"Large-scale disorder is rare and this outbreak in Shrewsbury town centre was unusual in its scale. On occasions, when we suspect there may be trouble, we run an appropriate operation to protect the public in dealing with any incidents."
He added: "On this occasion, the significant number of arrests and charges together with any banning orders which result, will send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated."
A number of other incidents also took place inside and outside the ground on the day of the game.
