Wigan have accused Greater Manchester Police of unfair pricing tactics at their home games.
Latics question stadium security fees
Wigan have accused Greater Manchester Police of unfair pricing tactics at their home games.
The Latics claim the police have trebled the cost of policing matches at the JJB Stadium and Wigan are now asking a High Court judge to oversee a legal battle for a bill approaching £300,000.
Mr Justice Mann was told that Wigan used to be charged for the special policing services it requested inside the stadium, but that the police now demand payment for the area surrounding the stadium.
However, Wigan argue that the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) can only charge for officers on duty within the stadium, where only ticket holders can go.
Wrong
Adam Lewis, representing the club said: "The GMP appears to say that it can provide and charge for whatever services it wants and at whatever charge. That is wrong.
"Certainly it has an operational discretion, but no entitlement to go beyond what is reasonably fair when it comes to setting policing levels and charges for them.
"For it to do so is unlawful, whether it characterises its actions in this context as public or private."
He said the police were taking advantage of Wigan's circumstances as a Premier League team, to charge for special policing at a much higher level than other clubs in the area.
Threat
Wigan were charged for nearly three times the number of police on duty at the matches than that which they used to pay prior to promotion.
When Wigan originally refused to pay the higher bill, the police threatened to withdraw their services for this season, which would have meant no home matches.
Mr Lewis said: "Wigan had no choice but to pay the balance but did so expressly under protest and without prejudice to its defence in the action."
The GMP says it was entitled in law to charge Wigan for officers who are deployed in the stadium and in the surrounding area.
