Seven Charged Over FA Cup Football Related Violence

Police in Southampton have now charged seven people with public order offences after recently releasing CCTV images of ten people they want to question about football related violence.

The charges all relate to incidents that happened around the Southampton v Pompey FA Cup game at St Mary’s Stadium in February.

Eleven people were arrested and charged mainly with public order offences after the match and since then a number of officers have been working to find those others involved.

Ten pictures were released last week of people officers wanted to question. Seven have now been arrested and charged and more arrests are expected.

Police are also in a position to release a new photo of one of the men they are still trying to trace and are hoping someone will recognise him and contact officers.

Officers from the Operation Austen Team are working in conjunction with the club and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to find, arrest and charge where appropriate anyone found acting violently at football games. They will also be looking to get football banning order against those involved.

The seven arrested and charged so far are as a direct result of the photos being released are:

Martin Bishop, 42, Wheatlands, Fareham,

Michael Byles, 24, Aldermoor Road, Southampton,

Thomas Hunter, 19, Marston Road, Southampton,

James Koral, 20, Haddon Drive, Eastleigh,

Ross Phillips, 28, Swift Road, Southampton,

Matthew Hinton, 19, Hillside Avenue, Southampton, (Court date 30/3/10 at Southampton Magistrates)

Lewis Buckley, 24, The Millburns, Romsey. (Court date 30/3/10 at Southampton Magistrates)

Unless otherwise stated they are all due to appear before Southampton Magistrates on Thursday, March 25. All except Thomas Hunter are charged with violent disorder. He is charged with threatening behaviour.

Anyone who can identify any of the other three men is asked to call the Operation Austen Team in Southampton on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Officers are also interested in hearing information about anyone else who may have been involved who has not had their photo released yet.