I WAS with senior officers from Wiltshire Police for their derby day operation and witnessed the extent of the aggression and unpredictability they face.

“We’ve spent the last 20 years, as an organisation, getting really good at public order and it’s that command structure which makes it work,” said Inspector Dave Minty.

“We know only one per cent of people coming today are intent on violence. We still have to be here because actually we know three per cent aren’t intent on violence, but will join in if it kicks off.”

Briefings for Wiltshire Police staff began at 6.30am on Saturday morning, in time for the first of the Bristol City fans to start arriving from 9am.

The Great Western Hotel was the away fans’ designated pub, assigned to limit the chances of mixing with home supporters, but moving them on to the game is the tricky part.

A box, as officers called it, is created to surround the mob of 500, potentially boozed-up Bristol fans, with horses from Thames Valley Police at the front and rear and officers making up the perimeter on foot.

The box is guided, not forced, as Insp Minty was keen to stress, down the full-length of Station Road before turning into County Road and on to the ground itself.

As the clock ticked nearer 3pm, you could feel the rise in tension.

More officers appeared to counter the rapid influx of Town fans, the welcoming committee for those away supporters marching in.

The tribes come within 10 feet of each other, a single-file line of 30 officers and a handful of horses, keeping them apart.

Bottles, cans and chants are exchanged and the line bows, but the officers hold them, under great stress, but they hold them.

Do the officers fear for their own safety?

“No. We’ve got the kit, we’ve got the skills,” said Insp Minty. “There’s a level of experience. The officers that were getting right in people’s faces will know what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. It’s not about a use of violence, it’s about demonstrating that we’re being robust: ‘you’re not coming through’.

“If you stand back, it gives the impression they’re going to come on to us. Almost counter-intuitively, by getting close-up amongst them, we’re using less violence than if they come at you – you have to act.

“The horses are very intimidating. They’re two-tonne of muscle with a brain of its own and a rider sat on top, which is much scarier than I could ever be.”

Once the fans are inside and the match kicks off, much of the onus is on the stewards to perform the role they execute all season long.

The police are keen to reinforce their colleagues, but will not get involved unless asked.

In this case, the only serious problems were two smoke grenades from the away end, which were quickly dealt with.

During the first half of the match Insp Minty, who led police operations in and around the ground for the day, reflected on the role police play.

“You have to bear in mind who we are dealing with. If the police weren’t there, and this is an honest opinion now, not that of the police force, a lot would have disappeared,” he said.

“Because we’re there, supporters know there’s an element of safety for them. If we’d have walked away, which we never would do, you would have had some dangerous elements there and it would’ve been horrible.

“Sometimes it’s frustrating for us. We are really well trained, but we’re concentrating on disorder and suddenly a family will come in front of you. There’s an expectation from them the police are superhuman and ‘we’ll just look after you madam’."