Police chief: safe standing leads to more cocaine

‘History-making’ is an all too often overused term when it comes to the Premier League. But yesterday was indeed something of a red letter day in English football. For Liverpool’s away game at Chelsea marked the first time fans could watch from standing areas for nearly 30 years, since the Taylor Report in the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy.

For football-lovers now have the option to sit or stand in certain grounds, with a seat as well as a barrier running between rows. Each attendee in the section is given a designated space. But despite months of planning, years of lobbying and widespread demand from fans and football bosses alike, not all are happy at the return of safe standing. Up popped Cheshire Police Chief Constable Mark Roberts on BBC Breakfast yesterday to sound the alarm:

Some of the concerns we’ve got are particularly if crowds are stood up it’s easier to throw missiles, engage in hate chanting, racism, sneak alcohol in. Take