
Luton fans banned from Watford pubs on day of Championship match
Luton Town fans will not be able to use pubs in Watford when the two rival football clubs face each other on Sunday.Hertfordshire Police said it was licensees that had taken the decision to not serve Hatters fans when their team takes on the The Hornets in the Championship battle at Vicarage Road. The force warned home fans they would not be allowed to exit the stadium via Vicarage Road itself until away fans had left after the match which kicks off at 12:00 GMT.Ch Insp Ian Grout said: "Our primary role is safety… Watford fans will be free to leave through Cardiff Road or into Harwoods Road into west Watford."
"As the police we do not have the power to say to pubs you must open to away fans," he added.Police have also put in place an alcohol ban on Vicarage Road, along with greater resources on the day.
The last time the rivals faced each other was on 19 October when Luton came out on top with a 3-0 home win at Kenilworth Road.Ahead of that game Hornets' fans were brought into Luton by coaches.On Sunday, 230 police officers will be working at the stadium and behind the scenes. That level of policing is about eight times more resources compared to Watford's game against Leeds 11 February.
Planning for the game started four months ago.Ch Insp Grout, a self-confessed Watford supporter, added: "If [Watford fans] wait for 15 minutes after the game, once Luton fans have exited, we will open up Vicarage Road."It's an important match for both teams and I want people to come and enjoy the game and be safe. "If fans are intent on coming to cause disorder we will deal with that accordingly, so please don't come. "Our plans in place will happen and everyone will come watch a game of football and go home safely."There will be drink kiosks open for Watford fans who choose to wait for the opening of Vicarage road.Luton last visited Vicarage Road in October 2022 when the team lost 4-0 against Watford.
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
Defender Kesler-Hayden expected to leave Villa this summer
Defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden is likely to leave Aston Villa this summer after an impressive loan spell at Preston North 22-year-old is attracting interest from the Championship and abroad following a standout season at has come through Villa's academy - making four substitute appearances - and any cash will help the club comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).Kesler-Hayden, an England Under-20 international, won Preston's young player of the season and player of the season full-back made 51 appearances as North End finished 20th in the has previously spent time on loan at Swindon, MK Dons, Huddersfield and Plymouth.


The Sun
16 minutes ago
- The Sun
Austria shooting LIVE: Terrified pupils flee ‘bullied' ex-student, 21, armed with shotgun in massacre that left 10 dead
AT LEAST 10 young people have been killed after a "bullied" former student opened fire in a school in Austria. Terrifying footage shows pupils fleeing the 21-year-old male shooter as he went on the deadly rampage before turning the gun on himself. 6 6 6 6 The victims include six girls and three boys, local police officers confirmed. They are all children and teenagers, they added. Another 12 are seriously injured and in hospital receiving treatment, with up to 30 said to be wounded in total. Horrifying video shows pupils hiding in a classroom as gunshots ring out nearby. Others clips show students running for their lives as heavily armed cops make their way inside the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school. A massive police operation in Graz was launched shortly after 10am this morning when the first gunshot was heard. Troops from the Austrian special forces were seen storming the institution in the country's second biggest city. The Austrian government has now declared a three-day mourning period. The gunman was an ex-pupil who didn't graduate and is said to have been a victim of bullying during his time at the school, reports say. He is said to have been carrying two legally owned weapons - a Glock pistol and a shotgun at the time. The lone shooter was found dead in a bathroom after turning the gun on himself, the Austrian interior minister confirmed. He was not known to police, and a motive is yet to be confirmed. In total, over 300 police officers were deployed to secure the school grounds. Authorities issued a disaster alert to local hospitals, and wounded students are being taken to a nearby concert stadium. Today, 13:29 By Sayan Bose 'This horror cannot be put into words' says Austrian president Alexander Van der Bellen said Austria was mourning today and called the shooting a "horror" that "cannot be put into words". He added: "What happened today in a school in Graz strikes at the heart of our country. "These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. "A teacher who accompanied them on their journey." Today, 13:26 By Sayan Bose Emergency services continue working at the scene Today, 13:12 By Sayan Bose Shooter was 'bullied' in school Local media reports say the ex-pupil was a victim of bullying during his time at the school. Today, 12:49 By Sayan Bose Austria's population among the most heavily armed in Europe Austria has one of the most heavily armed civilian populations in Europe, with an estimated 30 firearms per 100 persons, according to the Small Arms Survey, an independent research project. Machine guns and pump action guns are banned, while revolvers, pistols and semi-automatic weapons are allowed only with official authorization. Rifles and shotguns are permitted with a firearms license or a valid hunting licence, or for members of traditional shooting clubs. Today, 12:47 By Sayan Bose Graz school shooting 'unbearable', says Austria's minister Austria's Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger wrote on X: "It's incomprehensible and unbearable. "My sympathy and grief go out to the victims and their families. No one can imagine the suffering; as a mother of three children, it breaks my heart." Today, 12:45 By Sayan Bose Cops say area has been secured A local police spokesman said the area had been secured, the school had been evacuated and relatives of the victims and pupils were being cared for. "There is no further danger for the population, but there are several dead," he told Austrian television. Today, 12:16 By Sayan Bose Austrian chancellor calls Graz school shooting 'national tragedy' Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said a shooting at a school in the city of Graz was a "national tragedy" in a statement on Tuesday and offered his condolences to the families who have lost their children. "The rampage at a school in Graz is a national tragedy that has deeply shaken our entire country," Stocker said. "There are no words for the pain and grief that we all - all of Austria - are feeling right now," he added. Today, 12:00 By Sayan Bose In pictures: emergency services at the scene Today, 11:39 By Sayan Bose Death toll rises to 10 At least 10 people are now believed to be dead after the shooting rampage in the Austrian school. Graz Mayor Elke Kahr confirmed the suspected shooter was among those killed. Another 28 people have been severely injured, with four currently in extremely critical condition. Today, 11:20 By Sayan Bose Austrian Interior Minister en route to the school Interior Minister Gerhard Karne is said to be on his way to the school in Graz, according to local media outlets. Today, 11:15 By Sayan Bose 28 people injured in shooting spree At least 28 people have reportedly been injured in the school shooting, Austrian local media reports. Kronen Zeitung newspaper said four of them are extremely critical and are being treated in hospitals. Today, 11:09 By Sayan Bose Special task force units deployed Police spokesperson Sabri Yorgun said special forces were among those sent to the high school after a call at 10am. This includes the special tactical unit Cobra, which handles attacks and hostage situations. Today, 11:05 By Sayan Bose Death toll rises to 9 At least nine people are now believed to be dead after the shooting rampage in the Austrian school. Graz Mayor Elke Kahr confirmed the suspected shooter was among those killed. Today, 11:01 By Sayan Bose Where did the shooting happen? Austrian cops said the shooting took place at BORG Dreierschützengasse, a high school in Graz.


Telegraph
20 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Police Federation pays £15m to officers hit by cyber attack
The Police Federation has paid out £15 million to 19,000 current and former officers who had their personal details compromised and stolen by cyber criminals. Two huge attacks exposed the home addresses of some officers to hackers six years ago, and in March 2022 the federation admitted liability for unlawfully processing officers' personal details by not having proper protection in place. The attacks sparked panic among rank and file officers who feared their safety had been compromised. The federation has admitted that two recently settled group actions 'have had an enormous impact on the finances and assets of the PFEW (Police Federation of England and Wales) and the organisation could not withstand a further claim of this nature'. Hackers accessed Police Federation systems and encrypted several of its databases during the attacks, making them inaccessible. Now the organisation, which represents 145,000 rank and file officers, has agreed to settle the claim for £15 million, inclusive of legal and insurance costs. It had been claimed that the names, email addresses, National Insurance numbers and ranks of around 120,000 police officers had been exposed. A source said: 'This is a huge settlement. It caused huge concern among rank and file police officers up and down the country.' 'Agreed a settlement' The settlement had been revealed by Monckton Chambers, the law firm. Mukund Krishna, the chief executive officer of the Police Federation, said it was his priority to resolve the two historic action claims that 'hung over the organisation' when he became CEO in July 2023. He added: 'At the end of last year, we agreed a settlement following the employment tribunal ruling against us regarding pension discrimination. 'I am now pleased to say that we have settled the data protection claims brought against PFEW by just under 20,000 members and former members. This claim followed two separate cyber attacks suffered by the federation over six years ago. 'The federation has taken the pragmatic view that settlement of the litigation is in the best interests of both the federation and its members. 'The negotiation of these settlements has required a huge amount of detailed work but will, collectively, provide the federation with much greater financial certainty going forward. This outcome will also allow PFEW to move on and focus all our efforts on transforming the organisation and serving the membership.' A total of £15 million will be paid in stages, which covers all 19,159 claims for damages but also includes legal costs, expenses and the costs of insurance cover.