Over the past 8 months, the club, supporter groups, Victoria Police, FFA, Etihad Stadium Management and AAMI Park Management have been working together and have committed to produce a working document that provides clear direction to best practice processes for managing supporters on match day; ensure consistency and the safety of all involved, through an improved understanding and focus on common safety and security goals.
Over the past 8 months, the club, supporter groups, Victoria Police, FFA, Etihad Stadium Management and AAMI Park Management have been working together and have committed to produce a working document that provides clear direction to best practice processes for managing supporters on match day; ensure consistency and the safety of all involved, through an improved understanding and focus on common safety and security goals.
Note: The venues are responsible for providing event security. Currently the security providers for both venues are ACG Event & Security Services
Click here for the full charter.
Roles & Responsibilities:
The Club, Venues, Victoria Police and Supporter Marshals commit to facilitating an enjoyable, safe and secure event for supporters without undue interference, ensuring effective communication with supporters during the event.
Melbourne Victory Football Club: To ensure suitable planning with all stakeholders for each event and to facilitate communications between supporters, Victoria Police and Venue Management
Victoria Police: To maintain public order and provide support to venue management.
Venue Management: Responsible for the operation of the stadium, management of stadium security and making decisions regarding conditions of entry.
Venue Security: Security personnel are managed by each stadium and responsible for acting as the first responder to security incidents.
Supporter Marshals: Persons appointed by the Club to act as a liaison between the supporters and the Club, venue security and Victoria Police.
Supporters: Commit to be law abiding and obey relevant statutes and policies designed to enhance their safety and experience.
Policies:
The following policies and protocols for supporter management will be implemented at AAMI Park and Etihad Stadium, to ensure all match day stakeholders understand and adhere to the charter:
Event Planning:
*All key stakeholders will be involved in the event risk assessment and develop a match risk profile (LOW, MEDIUM or HIGH), which correlates to Security and Police staffing numbers. This is based on crowd size, travelling fans, rivalry and history between teams and status of the event.
*Victoria Police will always attempt to roster members with previous A-League policing experience.
Match Day Operations:
a.Venue Access:
*Venue security manages access to each venue and they will ensure;
1.) Pre-game access for active supporters to admit approved banners / materials
2.) Vetting of bags and supporter materials to comply with for FFA and Venue Conditions of Entry.
*Where operationally feasible, Victoria Police will provide a low-visibility approach on the concourse outside the venue and at access points.
*Melbourne Victory supporters are to advise the Club of plans to display any additional supporter materials on match day. The Club staff will contact the venue and seek approval for these displays. Note: The venue ultimately has the final decision.
b. Pre-match Briefings:
*There will be a pre-match and post-match security briefing involving all parties.
*Victoria Police, Venue Management with Venue Security will deliver respectively, a pre-match security briefing to their staff covering; relevant aspects of the Charter, education of the active football supporter culture and behaviour, communications and intervention plans for crowd management issues, approved supporter materials and the FFA Banned Supporter Program.
c. Management Plan:
*The new intervention model will be tiered as follows;
1.) Supporter Marshals are the first reference point for key active supporters, Victoria Police and Venue security.
2.) Venue security is the primary responders to incidents or disruptive behaviour.
3.) Victoria Police will intervene if an incident escalates beyond the control of venue security or they deem it is required due to “non routine” crowd safety issues.
*Any revision in tactics is to be communicated to all parties in a timely manner.
d. Match Day Positioning:
*A low visibility approach will be taken by Police in active areas and across the board.
*In the absence of crowd safety issues, Police / Venue security presence within active supporter areas will be limited.
*Venue Security requires supporters to maintain a clear path down each of the venue-s aisles.
e. Designated team and point of meeting for issues:
*The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) provides an operational environment where all parties with a vested interest, ensure the safe and smooth running of the event through control of their resources and coordination with each other in a timely and effective manner.
*If an emergency occurs, a field emergency management team (EMT) of key stakeholder representatives will assemble at a designated point to support the resolution of the incident.
Management of Match Day Issues:
a. Evictions:
Venue Security staff and when required, Victoria Police, will manage each eviction in an efficient and safe manner.
Evictions at our games will occur due to a breach of Terms of Admission, Venue Conditions of Entry and/or FFA Spectator Code of Behaviour.
b. Flares:
*If a fan is caught in possession of a flare, igniting or throwing a flare, this will result in a ban of five-years (for all FFA sanctioned events) and carries a penalty of up to $4,900.
*If a flare however is ignited in an area, we ask that members and fans allow security to remove the flare at a safe and appropriate time.
*The approach from Venue Security to the situation will be non-confrontational and controlled.
*No matter what the Match Risk Profile, Victoria Police reserve the right to conduct field investigations into any flare ignition incident or any other non-routine crowd safety issue at a football venue. Such an intervention would not ordinarily apply to routine crowd behavioural issues, which should be addressed within the intent of the crowd engagement policy stipulated elsewhere in this Charter.
