Ten people have been arrested after “violent disorder” before a football match between Reading and Oxford United.
The arrestees were a “small minority” of the 12,000 fans who attended the Reading vs. Oxford United match in Reading on Tuesday, according to Thames Valley Police.
In the run-up to the game, there was a heightened police presence, and two dispersal orders were in effect, giving officers more authority to move people away from specific areas of town.
Officers are still looking for a guy who they believe “may have vital information regarding a public order incident” that occurred that day.
On Tuesday, December 12, the long-awaited derby game took place at Reading’s Select Car Leasing Stadium.
It was the first time the two opposing teams had met since 2004, and the game ended 1-1 draw
Supt Lee Barnham, the game’s Silver Operational Commander, stated that the game went off “without incident.”
“Those arrested reflect a small minority of those in the town centre ahead of the game,” stated the police chief.
The youngest arrestee was 16 years old, and the oldest was 56 years old. Those detained come from a variety of locations, including Oxford, Abingdon, Bicester, and Wokingham.
They were all released on bond.
Officers are currently investigating “a number of incidents,” according to Supt Barnham, and are particularly interested in speaking with a guy, shown above, “as he may have vital information regarding a public order incident in Friar Street and Station Road between 6.45pm and 7pm on Tuesday.”
He requested that anyone who recognised the individual in the photo contact Thames Valley Police.
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