Fans complain at police searches

The IPCC said it would investigate any complaint fully

Fans of Reading Football Club say they were the victims of "illegal searches" by British Transport Police (BTP).

The Supporters' Trust At Reading (STAR) claim fans at the town's train station in football paraphernalia were searched and screened by a metal detector.

But the group said anyone wearing normal clothing on Saturday, including other supporters, were let through.

The BTP said the searches were legal, but STAR said the Independent Police Complaints Commission would be told.

No 'stereotyping'

Jon Keen, vice-chair of STAR, said officers were targeting supporters trying to catch trains to London, where Reading were playing Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

He said: "These stop and searches must be based upon clear police intelligence and cannot be based upon stereotyping.

"But it's clear from the fact that police were stopping everyone who looked like a football supporter - and no-one else - they targeted travelling supporters for no good reason except the fact that they were football supporters.

"We're getting fed up with being discriminated against purely because our chosen leisure activity is watching football.

'Stop fans'

"On this basis we're convinced that these searches were illegal, and we'll be making a complaint to the IPCC about this as soon as possible."

A BTP spokesman said officers had been told to stop groups of fans and ask them to walk through the metal detector, but denied everyone wearing football shirts and scarves had been stopped.

He added: "BTP is committed to reducing instances of football related violence, which have in fact increased in recent years.

"This particular initiative was part of a nationwide operation that was organised for a busy day of domestic football fixtures."

There were no arrests made during the operation in Reading on Saturday.

The IPCC said it would investigate any complaint fully.