Latest news with #Coppin
BBC News
10-02-2025
- BBC News
Essex police sergeant dismissed after football game ban
A police sergeant who was banned from football matches for "tragedy chanting" has been formally dismissed from his force. Tyler Coppin, 29, from Colchester, pleaded guilty in court to a public order offence in connection with an incident at the Liverpool v Chelsea game at Anfield in October. He has now been found to have committed gross misconduct at an Essex Police misconduct Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: "If officers are responsible for upholding the law, it cannot be right that they break it." Coppin's actions were witnessed by Liverpool FC stewards at the match on 20 October and he was ejected from the stadium and Police said he had been "tragedy chanting". According to the Crown Prosecution Service, tragedy chanting is when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about historical disasters or accidents related to a football pleaded guilty to one offence under the Public Order Act – behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress - at South Sefton Magistrates' Court on Merseyside on 13 December. 'Clear message' As well as the football banning order, Coppin was ordered to pay fines and costs of £ the misconduct hearing, the former sergeant was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable Harrington acknowledged his officer's remorse and a previously unblemished career in policing, but dismissed Coppin from the force without notice and he will be placed on the College of Policing barred list."It is clear that ex-Sgt Coppin was remorseful and may not have been aware of the impact of his words, but he has been criminally convicted of a public order offence," the chief constable said. "His actions will seriously undermine public trust and confidence and I must send a clear message to officers, staff and the wider public that behaviour such as this cannot and will not be tolerated in policing." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Sky News
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Sky News
Essex Police sergeant Tyler Coppin sacked and barred over tragedy chanting at Liverpool game
A police officer who took part in tragedy chanting against Liverpool fans has been sacked. Sergeant Tyler Coppin, of Essex Police, pleaded guilty to the public order offence while at a Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on 20 October. Merseyside Police said that the officer was seen by club stewards chanting toward Liverpool supporters, before being ejected from the stadium and arrested by local police. Coppin was handed a three-year football banning order, along with £645 in fines and costs in December. On Friday, a misconduct panel - chaired by Essex Police's Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington - found Coppin had breached standards of professional behaviour concerning honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct. He was dismissed from the force without notice and will be placed on the College of Policing barred list. The chief constable noted Coppin's remorse for the incident and his previously unblemished policing record, but added that while the dismissal was over "a moment's serious stupidity... this is the only appropriate outcome". He added: "His actions will seriously undermine public trust and confidence and I must send a clear message to officers, staff and the wider public that behaviour such as this cannot and will not be tolerated in policing. "If officers are responsible for upholding the law, it cannot be right that they break it." The Crown Prosecution Service describes tragedy chanting as when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters or accidents involving players or fans. It comes after Leeds United accused a section of Millwall fans of singing "vile chants" during Saturday's FA Cup tie at Elland Road. The club said in a statement alleging chants relating to the murders of Whites fans Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus before a UEFA Cup semi-final at Galatasaray in 2000 were made during the game.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What is tragedy chanting, as policeman is sacked for offence?
A police officer who admitted to 'tragedy chanting' at a Liverpool football match has been sacked and barred from policing, his force has confirmed. Sergeant Tyler Coppin, of Essex Police, previously pleaded guilty to the public order offence towards Liverpool fans at a Premier League match at Anfield against Chelsea last October. Coppin was given a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £645 in fines and costs in December, Merseyside Police said. Essex Police, which then instigated misconduct proceedings against Coppin because of his conviction, confimed that he has been sacked and barred from policing. It comes as Leeds United and Millwall condemned 'tragedy chanting' that took place during Saturday's FA Cup tie between the two clubs at Elland Road. Yahoo News looks at what tragedy chanting is and what happens if you get caught doing it. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, tragedy chanting is when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters or accidents involving players or fans – including references to the Hillsborough Disaster, Munich Air Crash, Bradford Fire, Leeds fans killed in Istanbul, or the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash. People found guilty of tragedy chanting can be banned from matches, and be fined and ordered to pay compensation. In August 2023, the CPS said it had updated its prosecution guidance on football related offences to reconfirm that tragedy-related abuse could be prosecuted as a public order offence, setting out how lawyers could apply for Football Banning Orders to stop fans attending matches, as well as imposing restrictions, such as not being able to travel to certain areas, or be allowed in pubs at game time and travel during tournament times. At the time Douglas Mackay, from the CPS, said: 'A small minority of so-called fans are both damaging the reputation of the sport and more importantly this offending has a devastating impact on the families of victims of tragedies and the communities connected closely to these events." He said the updated guidance sent a "clear message that this vile behaviour will not be tolerated", adding: "We want supporters to passionately enjoy our national sport without crossing the line into criminality." After an FA Cup tie between Leeds United and Millwall at Elland Road on 8 February, both clubs were forced to condemn "vile" tragedy chanting relating to the murders of Leeds fans Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus before a Uefa Cup semi-final at Galatasaray in 2000. A statement from Leeds said: "During today's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Millwall, we were extremely disappointed to hear vile chants relating to football tragedies from the away section at Elland Road. "We know the impact this has on the families of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, along with the whole fanbase of Leeds United. "We will work with the police and Millwall Football Club to identify those involved, while we will also continue our efforts with the football authorities to help eradicate these chants from the game." Millwall also issued a statement, saying: "The club strongly condemns all forms of football tragedy abuse and is appalled to receive reports of such chanting from a minority at today's FA Cup fixture against Leeds United. "Both clubs have suffered tragic losses to their respective families in recent history. Chanting about this is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the club or the governing bodies. "It has no place in football and the club will work closely with Leeds United and authorities to identify those responsible. "We all have a duty to ensure Millwall Football Club is represented proudly and responsibly at all times." When the CPS announced it was updating its guidance in August 2023, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said: "Tragedy related abuse is completely unacceptable and has no place in our game. This behaviour is highly offensive and can have a lasting effect on the families, friends and communities who have been devastatingly impacted by these events." Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters added: 'We strongly believe there is no room for abhorrent tragedy abuse in football. Along with our clubs and the authorities, we are committed to sanctioning those found guilty and will also focus on educating fans of all ages, so they understand why this abuse is so hurtful and unacceptable.' In November of that year, the FA said it was working to address tragedy-related chanting, gesturing and displaying of abusive messages. It referred to education resources launched by the Premier League aimed at helping children understand the hurt and impact of behaviour like tragedy-related abuse, which included an in-classroom lesson made available to more than 18,000 primary schools and 60,000 teachers in England and Wales in November as part of the Premier League Primary Stars programme. The resource was supported by Liverpool supporter Margaret Aspinall, former Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, whose son James died in the Hillsborough disaster. At the time she said: 'Football brings so much joy to so many people all over the world, but there is no need for people to be chanting in the way they do. The pain it causes is unbearable; we do not deserve to hear these chants, they hurt just as much as losing your child. If you hear that chanting, go to a steward, report it as, through the proper authorities, you can change things. Anything that offends or hurts anybody is never acceptable.' Coppin, of Essex Police, was given a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £645 in fines after pleading guilty to tragedy chanting at a Premier League match at Anfield against Chelsea last October. A misconduct panel chaired by Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, held on 7 February, found Coppin had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct. Harrington acknowledged Coppin's remorse and a previously unblemished policing career but found he would be dismissed from the force without notice and placed on the College of Policing barred list. He said: 'Ex-Sgt Coppin's dismissal is the result of a moment's serious stupidity, but this is the only appropriate outcome. 'It is clear that ex-Sgt Coppin was remorseful and may not have been aware of the impact of his words, but he has been criminally convicted of a public order offence. 'His actions will seriously undermine public trust and confidence and I must send a clear message to officers, staff and the wider public that behaviour such as this cannot and will not be tolerated in policing. 'If officers are responsible for upholding the law, it cannot be right that they break it.' Read more Arrests after 'tragedy chanting' at Liverpool vs Manchester United match (Manchester Evening News) Football's referee crisis: we asked thousands of refs about the abuse and violence that's driving them out of the game (The Conversation)
The Guardian
09-02-2025
- The Guardian
Essex police officer sacked after admitting ‘tragedy chanting' at Anfield
An Essex police officer has been sacked after admitting 'tragedy chanting' at Liverpool fans during a Premier League match last year. Essex police instigated misconduct proceedings against Sgt Tyler Coppin after he pleaded guilty to the public order offence during the Liverpool game against Chelsea at Anfield last October. He was given a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £645 in fines and costs in December, Merseyside police said. Coppin had been witnessed by stewards chanting towards Liverpool fans. He was ejected from the stands and arrested. On Friday, a misconduct panel chaired by the Essex police chief constable, Ben-Julian Harrington, found that Coppin had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct. He was dismissed from Essex police force without notice and will be placed on the College of Policing barred list. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, tragedy chanting is when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters or accidents involving players or other fans. Harrington said Coppin, who had previously had an unblemished career in policing, was being dismissed as the result of 'a moment's serious stupidity', but that this was 'the only appropriate outcome'. 'It is clear that ex-Sgt Coppin was remorseful and may not have been aware of the impact of his words, but he has been criminally convicted of a public order offence,' the chief constable said. 'His actions will seriously undermine public trust and confidence and I must send a clear message to officers, staff and the wider public that behaviour such as this cannot and will not be tolerated in policing. 'If officers are responsible for upholding the law, it cannot be right that they break it.' Ch Insp Kevin Chatterton, of Merseyside police, said: 'This type of behaviour has no place in football. We will take action and identify those who commit hate crime in any form, and this includes unacceptable chanting which causes distress to others.' In a 'fan information and chant warning', published on its website in January last year, Chelsea FC wrote: 'Chelsea Football Club believes hateful chanting has no place in football.' Last season, Arsenal welcomed three-year banning orders handed down to three Arsenal fans who pleaded guilty to tragedy-related abuse during an FA Cup match against Liverpool at the Emirates stadium, north London.
The Independent
09-02-2025
- The Independent
Police officer admits ‘tragedy chanting' at Liverpool match
A police officer who admitted to 'tragedy chanting' at a Liverpool football match has been sacked and barred from policing, Essex Police said. Sergeant Tyler Coppin, of Essex Police, previously pleaded guilty to the public order offence towards Liverpool fans at a Premier League match at Anfield against Chelsea last October 20. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, tragedy chanting is when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters or accidents involving players or fans. Coppin was given a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £645 in fines and costs in December, Merseyside Police said. Essex Police then instigated misconduct proceedings against Coppin because of his conviction. A misconduct panel chaired by Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, held on Friday, found Coppin had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct. Mr Harrington acknowledged both Coppin's remorse and a previously unblemished career in policing but found he would be dismissed from the force without notice and will be placed on the College of Policing barred list. The Chief Constable said: 'Ex-Sgt Coppin's dismissal is the result of a moment's serious stupidity, but this is the only appropriate outcome. 'It is clear that ex-Sgt Coppin was remorseful and may not have been aware of the impact of his words, but he has been criminally convicted of a public order offence. 'His actions will seriously undermine public trust and confidence and I must send a clear message to officers, staff and the wider public that behaviour such as this cannot and will not be tolerated in policing. 'If officers are responsible for upholding the law, it cannot be right that they break it.'
