'Bubble' Match v Portsmouth

[Barry the Badger]

That's fine but there was a post on here a while back which detailed the response from a senior policeman explaining their approach - the gist of which was that it was unfair to keep away fans in the ground after a match - I'm not sure but "human rights" may have been mentioned. I was at the last two matches we played at their excuse for a stadium and there wasn't any trouble outside the ground involving Saints supporters. The need for a bubble for Saints fans is highly questionable.

 

Actually the gist of it was that it's unfair to keep fans in the ground when there is no reason to do so. Against Millwall they believed there was no reason to do it.

 

Clearly they were proved wrong but it is quite an important distinction. I don't remember him saying they were completely against the idea, just that they only wanted to use it when they deemed it neccesary.

[Sour Mash]

My biggest gripe is the Old bill. At the last game they were loving the attention, almost desperate for it to kick off. They made a documentry about it, had a film crew following them round of the day and practically created a flash point by letting both set of fans out at the same time. We then had the self congratulations and back slapping at Banging up a few fall guys and get a few easy stats on their figures who got a year in jail for little more than shouting and rattling fences. Meanwhile justifying their clueless tactics and doing what every other police force in the country does at derby games by saying it was breach of human rights to keep the away fans in.

 

Fast forward 20 months or so and it now not a breach of human rights to tell fans they can only travel to the game by the w

ay they have decided and if they don't like it tough sh*t. Only at football would they get away with it.

That's the most spot on thing you've ever posted pal. What can you do though apart from stop going?

[Alain Perrin]

Dear Mr Cortese,

 

Please put the price of each ticket up by £3 next season and kill the ticket 'tax'. That way everyone can have the satisfaction of not knowing they're contributing to the operating costs and there's the off chance Dune will STFU.

 

Kind regards,

 

Alain

[Alain Perrin]

That's the most spot on thing you've ever posted pal. What can you do though apart from stop going?

 

Stop shaking fences? HTH

[dune]

Dear Mr Cortese,

 

Please put the price of each ticket up by £3 next season and kill the ticket 'tax'. That way everyone can have the satisfaction of not knowing they're contributing to the operating costs and there's the off chance Dune will STFU.

 

Kind regards,

 

Alain

 

So what exactly are we getting from paying a 3 pound ticket tax aside from p+P?

 

And can you please explain why there is a ticket tax for the bubble game when you have to pick up the coach pass from the ticket office?

[scott_saints]

So what exactly are we getting from paying a 3 pound ticket tax aside from p+P?

 

And can you please explain why there is a ticket tax for the bubble game when you have to pick up the coach pass from the ticket office?

It's probably there because he knows we will pay it, and is correct.

 

Fair play.

[CFSFC]

So what exactly are we getting from paying a 3 pound ticket tax aside from p+P?

 

And can you please explain why there is a ticket tax for the bubble game when you have to pick up the coach pass from the ticket office?

 

Who cares it's 3 pound. Are you really that poor.

[LGTL]

To be fair, the £1.50 "ticket tax" is probably more justified for the Pompey game then any other, as I imagine it'll be a fair bit of work checking through all applications, calculating average away games attended and then putting them in some sort of order. However, £3 for putting a ticket in an envelope is rather obscene.

[dune]

Who cares it's 3 pound. Are you really that poor.

 

You seem very naive about where Cortese is going here. Before you know it Cortese will have ramped up ticket prices and that sneaky little extra will be the cherry on the top. When you're having to pay 40 quid + a game don't start moaning.

[Alain Perrin]

So what exactly are we getting from paying a 3 pound ticket tax aside from p+P?

 

And can you please explain why there is a ticket tax for the bubble game when you have to pick up the coach pass from the ticket office?

 

OK.

 

- An online system of dubious quality (incidentally you pay £5 for this forum and don't even get a ticket!)

- An outsourced agency at c. £1 per call to answer the phones / internal staff (hourly rate) to man lower volume / away sales.

- Internal resources to print, envelope and dispatch.

- A proportional increase of 2.5% surcharge for credit card purchases (no cash option over the phone)

- +P&P 50p (stamp, envelope)

 

Other than that, it's a rip off. I don't get the obsession.

 

The 'ticket tax' is the most transparent part of the ticket price, you pay it on a service you are receiving - once per transaction, not once per ticket. I have no clue how much of the ticket goes to Rickie Lambert's wages or biscuits in the boardroom.

 

As for the Coach tickets, unless you ordered that by the power of thought, most of the costs, bar the 30p stamp will still apply.

[Whitey Grandad]

OK.

 

- An online system of dubious quality (incidentally you pay £5 for this forum and don't even get a ticket!)

- An outsourced agency at c. £1 per call to answer the phones / internal staff (hourly rate) to man lower volume / away sales.

- Internal resources to print, envelope and dispatch.

- A proportional increase of 2.5% surcharge for credit card purchases (no cash option over the phone)

- +P&P 50p (stamp, envelope)

 

Other than that, it's a rip off. I don't get the obsession.

 

The 'ticket tax' is the most transparent part of the ticket price, you pay it on a service you are receiving - once per transaction, not once per ticket. I have no clue how much of the ticket goes to Rickie Lambert's wages or biscuits in the boardroom.

 

As for the Coach tickets, unless you ordered that by the power of thought, most of the costs, bar the 30p stamp will still apply.

 

Regarding the cash option, it's cheaper to handle debit cards than it is to handle cash.

[dune]

OK.

 

- An online system of dubious quality (incidentally you pay £5 for this forum and don't even get a ticket!)

- An outsourced agency at c. £1 per call to answer the phones / internal staff (hourly rate) to man lower volume / away sales.

- Internal resources to print, envelope and dispatch.

- A proportional increase of 2.5% surcharge for credit card purchases (no cash option over the phone)

- +P&P 50p (stamp, envelope)

 

Other than that, it's a rip off. I don't get the obsession.

 

The 'ticket tax' is the most transparent part of the ticket price, you pay it on a service you are receiving - once per transaction, not once per ticket. I have no clue how much of the ticket goes to Rickie Lambert's wages or biscuits in the boardroom.

 

As for the Coach tickets, unless you ordered that by the power of thought, most of the costs, bar the 30p stamp will still apply.

 

So are you suggesting that there are no costs incurred for purchases from the window? Buying a ticket for a football match is an essential part of the process of going. That's what you do. It is a joke that we are charged over and above the cost of a stamp and an envelope for this. I can understand charging extra for using a credit card, but not for a debit card. If you agree with the ticket tax at a cost over and above p+P why not have a turnstile tax too - that is an expense, or why not have a steward tax - that's another expense, or why not have a big screen tax - it uses electric.

[the saint in winchester]

At the end of the day, if people could manage to go and watch a football match without feeling the need to knock seven shades of **** out of each other it wouldn't be an issue.

 

This is the most sensible post on here! We wouldn't have bubble games and travel restrictions if we could all get along. I have a Pompey fan on my table at work. I still get him a cuppa tea. Reach out and touch, people ... even the blue few are human... aren't they?

[Whitey Grandad]

This is the most sensible post on here! We wouldn't have bubble games and travel restrictions if we could all get along. I have a Pompey fan on my table at work. I still get him a cuppa tea. Reach out and touch, people ... even the blue few are human... aren't they?

 

I'm the same. So why can't I go to the match on my own? I'm old enough.

[Sour Mash]

Stop shaking fences? HTH

Good to see you completely miss the point of Turkish's post.

[Sour Mash]

To be fair, the £1.50 "ticket tax" is probably more justified for the Pompey game then any other, as I imagine it'll be a fair bit of work checking through all applications, calculating average away games attended and then putting them in some sort of order. However, £3 for putting a ticket in an envelope is rather obscene.

This. Dune is right though, once we get used to the £3 charge, then the prices will get pushed up. A lot of fans outside of Southampton that I know have no choice but to pay the £3 and it does add up over the course of the season.

[doddisalegend]

Good to see you completely miss the point of Turkish's post.

 

It's not though at the end of the day turkish wouldn't have to of made that post if grown men could behave themselves at a game of football. If they could there would be no need for police to infringe anyones human rights in the first place...

[Daren W]

Stop shaking fences? HTH

Or stop letting both sets of fans out at the same time at a local derby... HTH...

[Alucard]

OK.

 

- An online system of dubious quality (incidentally you pay £5 for this forum and don't even get a ticket!)

The same onnline system that the fans didn't get charged for in the previous 5 years of use. If it was costing that much per transaction wouldn't Lowe,Crouch, Wilde etc. have passed the cost on

 

- An outsourced agency at c. £1 per call to answer the phones / internal staff (hourly rate) to man lower volume / away sales.

If we are being charged £1 per call we are being royally ripped off and should use another agency

 

- Internal resources to print, envelope and dispatch.

10p max. These are the same staff that would serve somebody at the ticket offfice window where there is no extra charge for their services.

- A proportional increase of 2.5% surcharge for credit card purchases (no cash option over the phone)

There is no 2.5% surcharge on debit card purchases

- +P&P 50p (stamp, envelope)

The majaority of the cost but 36p second class post and 2p for the envelope.

 

That makes a charge of 75p to cover the transaction realistic. Now explain the other £2.25

[Alucard]

Also half of the mongs moaning about the £3 ticket tax pay £5 just to post on the Internet. You don't even get a ticket for paying to use this.

 

I think it goes over your mong head that you don't pay £5 every time you post on the internet. Can you explain your point about not getting a ticket because it's lost on me

[Viking Warrior]

Amanda contact Nick Illingworth or MikeO'Callaghan Im sure they can help you with your research after all they are the true saints supporters

[Sour Mash]

Also half of the mongs moaning about the £3 ticket tax pay £5 just to post on the Internet. You don't even get a ticket for paying to use this.

How thick are you?

[Sour Mash]

Amanda contact Nick Illingworth or MikeO'Callaghan Im sure they can help you with your research after all they are the true saints supporters

What an absolutely pointless post.

[JRM]

Amanda contact Nick Illingworth or MikeO'Callaghan Im sure they can help you with your research after all they are the true saints supporters

 

i don't know either of them, but judging from some of the replies on here yes she should contact them as she would get a much more detailed response as to the effect the bubble trip from saints fans point of view.

 

Amanda, if you read this I am interested in what work the FSF are doing on this? Once you have collected your research what will you be doing then? I am aware the FSF has done some excellent work fighting the fans side where they have been mistreated by clubs / police, and the “watching football is not a crime” campaign

[dune]

Contact Nick via his forum - a fao saintnick should do the trick.

 

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/fb_mb.php

 

You will also find a far better quality of poster on there too.

[Toomer]

Just out of interest and fair play(cough), I am sure it has been mentioned are they going to have bubble travel when they swim up to our place.

[Huffton]

Just out of interest and fair play(cough), I am sure it has been mentioned are they going to have bubble travel when they swim up to our place.

 

Apparently so. The horses are being rounded up and the coaches fitted with towbars as we speak...

[holepuncture]

With 50 odd coach loads you just know the pigs will go cone happy.

 

Good overtime earner that!

 

Wellsaid. A few years ago she'd have had to wash clothes down at the stream and mangle them. There was no vacum cleaner just a broom and pan. Irons needed heating on the fire she'd have to make, and she'd have to skin a rabbit for her mans supper. Women have never had it so easy FFS.

 

Classic, PMSL

 

My biggest gripe is the Old bill. At the last game they were loving the attention, almost desperate for it to kick off. They made a documentry about it, had a film crew following them round of the day and practically created a flash point by letting both set of fans out at the same time. We then had the self congratulations and back slapping at Banging up a few fall guys and get a few easy stats on their figures who got a year in jail for little more than shouting and rattling fences. Meanwhile justifying their clueless tactics and doing what every other police force in the country does at derby games by saying it was breach of human rights to keep the away fans in.

 

Fast forward 20 months or so and it now not a breach of human rights to tell fans they can only travel to the game by the w

ay they have decided and if they don't like it tough sh*t. Only at football would they get away with it.

 

http://www.fansonline.net/pompey-fans/article.php?id=370

 

Yip, kettling is now not acceptable to peaceful protestors... In the write up from the Skate FSF meeting they make a good point, if there ISNT any trouble the bubble becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and will be implemented as and when the police need the overtime.

 

So, do we strike a temporary allegience with the skates, to ensure our buses are destroyed and the bubble is well and truly burst?

 

We are political prisoners of a corrupt regieme!

[This Charming Man]

If most coaches were to get bricked, I'd imagine the OB would have a hard time trying to hire any coaches for the return fixture.

[Gemmel]

If most coaches were to get bricked, I'd imagine the OB would have a hard time trying to hire any coaches for the return fixture.

 

This is my biggest gripe with the whole thing. I can get myself to and from any game without trouble or risking my kids safety. What I can't guarantee is whether my coach will be one of the ones that is bricked and whether me and my daughter will be next to a window that comes through.

 

I would be interested in the legal aspect of by the fact they are forcing me to travel this way, that they are indeed responsible for my welffare.

[1976_Child]

Personally I think the whole game should be played on Xbox with each team on sofas placed in the center circle of their respective grounds, displayed on the big screens and video relayed via skype so we can still sing abusive songs about shooting them and washing their mouths out etc.

[The Kraken]

This is my biggest gripe with the whole thing. I can get myself to and from any game without trouble or risking my kids safety. What I can't guarantee is whether my coach will be one of the ones that is bricked and whether me and my daughter will be next to a window that comes through.

 

I would be interested in the legal aspect of by the fact they are forcing me to travel this way, that they are indeed responsible for my welffare.

 

Unfortunately I think that the only way these bubble trips will come to an end will be from legal action against the police for dereliction of duty should someone get injured while travelling under police escort in one of the coaches.

 

That said, for as long as we have a significant amount of brain-dead morons from both sides who will turn up at these games intent on causing trouble, then the majority of supporters will have to endure such draconian policing efforts in order to minimise the amount of disturbances caused by the idiotic minority. Like it or not, I do believe the bubble procedure to be (potentially) the safest one to use for getting away fans to and from the ground safely and in time for the game; of course, by December 19th we'll know if this is actually the case.

[stevegrant]

That said, for as long as we have a significant amount of brain-dead morons from both sides who will turn up at these games intent on causing trouble, then the majority of supporters will have to endure such draconian policing efforts in order to minimise the amount of disturbances caused by the idiotic minority.

The flaw in this theory, though, is that there is absolutely nothing stopping those who simply want a scrap from getting in their car or onto a train and going into Portsmouth on the day of the game and having a fight. If anything, it makes such a scenario much more likely because the police resources will be concentrated in one (relatively) small area, leaving the rest of the city unpoliced.

 

What are they going to do, stop all the trains and put up a roadblock on the M275 and Eastern Road?

[Frank's cousin]

At the end of the day, if people could manage to go and watch a football match without feeling the need to knock seven shades of **** out of each other it wouldn't be an issue.

 

This. As some beardy bloke in sandels once said ''reap what you sow'' - as inconvenient as it may be, blame the pathetic morons who act like 'hard men' from both clubs - as they are the cause.

 

Whatever the police are saying we must do, I am glad the club is taking this seriously. Its also about our reputation as a club. This way more is controlled and we avoid teh chance of our token morons draggin the club through the mire...

 

PS. Dune you need to seek out some psychiatric help - for a right wing tory, you seem rather displeased with the club following true blue capitalist principles and making money where they can.... Oh wait a minute, actually it makes sense, typical tories, only really concerned about themselves.... yawn.

[1976_Child]

What are they going to do, stop all the trains and put up a roadblock on the M275 and Eastern Road?

 

It was mooted that big games like these should be played at neutral ground. Like Carlisle for instance. As far away from the knuckle scrapers as possible. Not in favour, mind. Just give the rozzers tasers and shoot on site of webbed feet.

[Frank's cousin]

The flaw in this theory, though, is that there is absolutely nothing stopping those who simply want a scrap from getting in their car or onto a train and going into Portsmouth on the day of the game and having a fight. If anything, it makes such a scenario much more likely because the police resources will be concentrated in one (relatively) small area, leaving the rest of the city unpoliced.

 

What are they going to do, stop all the trains and put up a roadblock on the M275 and Eastern Road?

 

Point is though Steve, that at the very least those fans attending officially through the club channels are controlled - it means that if as you say a bunch of the brain dead morons jump in their cars and head for a scrap, at least we can genuinely say they are not our fans attending the game. Nothing can be fully controlled, but control what you can and try and at least remove the chance of the club being dragged through the mire by the few mindless wannbes

[This Charming Man]

It was mooted that big games like these should be played at neutral ground. Like Carlisle for instance. As far away from the knuckle scrapers as possible. Not in favour, mind. Just give the rozzers tasers and shoot on site of webbed feet.

 

Sounds good.

 

Us and the Skates could all travel up on the same trains and fight each other the whole way there and back.

[doddisalegend]

The flaw in this theory, though, is that there is absolutely nothing stopping those who simply want a scrap from getting in their car or onto a train and going into Portsmouth on the day of the game and having a fight. If anything, it makes such a scenario much more likely because the police resources will be concentrated in one (relatively) small area, leaving the rest of the city unpoliced.

 

What are they going to do, stop all the trains and put up a roadblock on the M275 and Eastern Road?

 

They're trying police trouble at the game so the theroy holds water in that context. Now if morons from both sides want to meet on some waste ground for a fight away from the staduim and out of sight of the general public and press I imagine the police are a lot less bothered.

[stevegrant]

Point is though Steve' date=' that at the very least those fans attending officially through the club channels are controlled - it means that if as you say a bunch of the brain dead morons jump in their cars and head for a scrap, at least we can genuinely say they are not our fans attending the game. Nothing can be fully controlled, but control what you can and try and at least remove the chance of the club being dragged through the mire by the few mindless wannbes[/quote']

In which case, we might as well ban everything in life, just in case someone wants to do something wrong.

 

Shock horror, there are idiots in the world. Big ****ing newsflash

 

Why don't we ban all right to peaceful protest then, seeing as they seem to attract more idiots than a football match? Ban shopping because someone might steal something?

 

I am perfectly capable of getting myself to Fratton Park without the need for a police bubble which both inconveniences me and leaves me significantly out of pocket, and without getting into any sort of trouble. I'm certainly not alone there, and for the police to hide behind "human rights" on one hand when defending their ridiculous policing of the Millwall game and then disregard the same rights for this one is ****ing ridiculous.

[stevegrant]

They're trying police trouble at the game so the theroy holds water in that context. Now if morons from both sides want to meet on some waste ground for a fight away from the staduim and out of sight of the general public and press I imagine the police are a lot less bothered.

Really? I was under the impression that their duty is to prevent ALL forms of disorder and illegal behaviour, not to pick and choose when it suits them.

[1976_Child]

Sounds good.

 

Us and the Skates could all travel up on the same trains and fight each other the whole way there and back.

 

Maybe what would happen is we would still have to travel on official coaches, whose windows would be blacked out. We would not be told which ground we were going to until told to remove our blindfolds after going through the turnstiles.

 

In fact, screw it. I think my Xbox idea is much better.

 

Actually, how about this: the friday before the game, when all the bone-heads go to sign-on down the job center just nik them and hold them under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Pretend they are muslims or something that way the pigs wouldn't have to explain it. And we could rendition them to some where not covered by any pesky Human Rights BS and torture the fek out of them by forcing them to watch replays of all of MLT's goals non-stop.

[doddisalegend]

In which case, we might as well ban everything in life, just in case someone wants to do something wrong.

 

Shock horror, there are idiots in the world. Big ****ing newsflash

 

Why don't we ban all right to peaceful protest then, seeing as they seem to attract more idiots than a football match? Ban shopping because someone might steal something?

 

I am perfectly capable of getting myself to Fratton Park without the need for a police bubble which both inconveniences me and leaves me significantly out of pocket, and without getting into any sort of trouble. I'm certainly not alone there, and for the police to hide behind "human rights" on one hand when defending their ridiculous policing of the Millwall game and then disregard the same rights for this one is ****ing ridiculous.

 

Why are people so quick to blame the police rather than the knuckle draggers who brought this on everyone? If the police do nothing and it all kicks off everyone will be ready to complain about police inactivity quick enough.

[saint.tom.clancy]

In a way I don't want this to be succesful. Obviously i'm not encouraging violence etc, but i'd much rather get the train down there and get ****ed up than have to sit on a coach sober for 5 hours.

 

Hopefully if it doesnt make much difference trouble wise then they'd have to use a different method to control it, which might mean letting everyone travel their own way but a lot better organisation - a special football train for example which arrives, say 2 hours before kick off and you get marched to the ground but the bar's are open. Not the perfect scenario but likely to be far less fans around and at least you still get a few beers and soak up the atmosphere.

[1976_Child]

Why are people so quick to blame the police rather than the knuckle draggers who brought this on everyone? If the police do nothing and it all kicks off everyone will be ready to complain about police inactivity quick enough.

 

well, to be fair, sometimes the actions the rozzers take are just plain bizarre.

 

Like in the last game of the season when we were relegated to league one. We all knew we were down, the atmosphere in the Northam was sad but not violent. Then in the 85th minute out come 20 police with their cute little puppies and lined up facing us home fans instead of the away lot. The doggies started snapping and baring their teeth at us - in our own ground - when nothing had kicked off at all. Made my blood boil and in a split second the whole Northam end was enraged. Completely idiotic thing to do. Then we leave and there is some tw-at of a constable shoving a video camera in my face. They monumentally got that game's policing wrong.

[warsash saint]

Why are people so quick to blame the police rather than the knuckle draggers who brought this on everyone? If the police do nothing and it all kicks off everyone will be ready to complain about police inactivity quick enough.

 

Because of the may they handled the Millwall & the last P*mpey game perhaps ??? Any fool could see that letting all fans out together would cause trouble. Keep the away fans in for 15 mins .... job done. I dont mind being kept in for an extra 30 mins if it meant done of the hassle of the 'bubble'.

[Victor]

Also half of the mongs moaning about the £3 ticket tax pay £5 just to post on the Internet. You don't even get a ticket for paying to use this.

 

Actually, mong, you don't get a ticket for £3 - the ticket will cost you up to £30 and allows you admission for the ground for 2-3 hours, not 12 months.

 

Could any kind soul who wants to do their bit for Help The Aged please explain what a 'bubble' match is; I might then have an opinion I could forward to the OP and understand the thread?

 

Appears the OB are restricting access to FP but can't believe there is any legislation that would allow an individual to be prevented from making their own way to the ground.

[stevegrant]

Quoting this article, a report on a recent Football Supporters Federation meeting in Portsmouth:

 

Barrister Alex Gask described ‘bubbling’ as another word for kettling. He pointed out that there was even less justification for it with football fans than there was at peaceful protests. He told us that the law is very clear, as established in court by the Moos judgement after the G20 demonstrations in 2009. This judgement was about police power to contain a peaceful demo to protect demonstrators from violent others trying to hijack it. ‘The court judged that it was unlawful to try to contain the peaceful demonstrators as there had been no breach of the peace. The court held that for the police to take the action there must be the likelihood of an imminent breach of the peace and the action has to be the last resort.’

 

Bubbling seems to be being deployed against the logic of this legal clarity, particularly considering the key word ‘imminent’. Apparently the police can use it with football fans because it hasn’t been challenged yet, whereas it has been challenged in its use against peaceful demonstrators. Context is all.

 

I'm willing to wager that the moment "bubbling" is challenged through the courts, it'll cease to be a viable option for the police.

[1976_Child]

Does anyone remember going to the Wolves game by coach when we beat them 0-6 a few years ago?

 

We all go off the coach in the car park next to molineux and the police herded us straight into the ground. Had to waste two hours drinking expensive beer caged up like we had the plague. Not allowed into the town. So it is hardly new. I did ask one of the police sergeants under what law could they stop free men from having free movement in their own country and he gave me some bull**** about if I didn't like it I could always spend the game in a cell.

[The Kraken]

Point is though Steve' date=' that at the very least those fans attending officially through the club channels are controlled - it means that if as you say a bunch of the brain dead morons jump in their cars and head for a scrap, at least we can genuinely say they are not our fans attending the game. Nothing can be fully controlled, but control what you can and try and at least remove the chance of the club being dragged through the mire by the few mindless wannbes[/quote']

 

Yep, I agree with this. Our cities are 17 miles apart, so there's not really ever too much separating a load of lads from either end getting in cars and driving up there for a dust up, whether there is a game on or not. The over-riding goal of the police must surely be to protect the innocent parties who want nothing to do with the violent, trouble-making aspect of the game, i.e. the majority of away fans. If other fans still decide to drive over, they won't have tickets so it is therefore not strictly a football violence incident but an incitement to riot.

 

Not that I can see too many of our lot choosing their option; the vast majority of our "lads" are much happier gobbing off and throwing objects from behind a secure police line, and would in all likelihood completely sh*t it were they to go mob-handed and unescorted in Fratton.

[stevegrant]

I did ask one of the police sergeants under what law could they stop free men from having free movement in their own country and he gave me some bull**** about if I didn't like it I could always spend the game in a cell.

Always the way. Unfortunately they assume (correctly) that, while Joe Public may well be law-abiding, he won't know the full detail of the law regarding freedom of movement and what restrictions the police are allowed to impose on people. As a result, the copper is safe in the knowledge that he can threaten someone with arrest and chances are that member of the public will simply do as he's told, rather than question the likelihood that the copper is actually abusing his powers.