Cops claim fans 'unified' at riots in the city centre

Rival teams were each due to play pre-season friendly matches on day the disorder broke out

- Gary Porter

RIVAL Stoke City and Port Vale fans 'were unified' on the day of the Hanley riots, according to Staffordshire Police evidence.

Both clubs had home pre-season friendlies on August 3 last year as violent disorder erupted in the wake of the Southport murders - which saw riots across the nation.

This month, a second report by MPs was published as part of an inquiry into the police response to last summer's disorder and found no evidence to support claims of 'two-tier policing'.

However, it did state that 'police forces should have better anticipated the risk of disorder in general.