by Michael Baggaley

CIVIL rights campaign group Liberty is set to take up the case of the Stoke supporters who were forced to leave Manchester by police before City's game at Old Trafford.

Around 70 fans were having a pre-match drink at The Railway Inn in Irlam, Greater Manchester on November 15, when police arrived, issued supporters with Section 27 orders and put them on coaches back to Stoke-on-Trent.

Greater Manchester Police says officers took action because they had intelligence that "hooligan groups" were planning violence at the match.

Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 allows police to remove individuals from a particular area for up to 48 hours if they believe there is a threat of alcohol-related crime or disorder.

But one of the fans, Lyndon Edwards, has made a formal complaint to Greater Manchester Police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

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