Police urge football fans to show respect at derby

Burnley beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in the corresponding fixture in November

Fans of Blackburn Rovers and Burnley have been urged by police to "show the same level of respect" to each other when the sides meet as they did in the previous fixture.

The clubs play at Ewood Park later and Lancashire Police will have dogs, helicopters and horses supporting specialist officers at the match.

The force said it wanted fans to behave mostly as they did when the teams met at Turf Moor on Remembrance Sunday in November.

It added that officers would be wearing body-worn cameras to catch any fans whose "passion spill over" or those who "may be intent on causing disorder".

A force representative said fans' behaviour in November was "overwhelmingly exemplary", though a firework was let off from outside the ground, the remnants of which fell on to the pitch.

They said any misbehaving supporters would be arrested, whether that was in Blackburn town centre, in the ground or at their homes.

"Anybody intent on committing offences... should expect to be arrested on the day or await the knock on the door from our officers," they added.

Supt Melita Worswick said the force would have "significant resources in place, but unfortunately this does not prevent those in the minority who are intent on causing issues".

"My officers will be proactive with those who are intent on poor behaviour and causing issues for those supporters who want to enjoy the local derby and the local community who live and work in the area," she said.

"I want both sets of supporters to show the same level of respect for each other that was experienced during the corresponding game, which fell on Remembrance Sunday.

"This fixture will once again be screened live on Sky Sports and put East Lancashire football on the national stage."

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