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A new era in the policing of one of the UK’s tensest football fixture will dawn in Newcastle next Sunday.

When Newcastle United play Sunderland at St James’ Park on December 21 it will be the tenth derby match Chief Supt Steve Neill has been in charge of policing.

But the top cop is planning a different approach to keeping the city safe and moving for football fans, shoppers and visitors, as the rival clubs meet for the first time this season.

Gone are the ‘rings of steel’, road closures and marching of fans to the stadium. Instead Chief Supt Neill is hoping the disorder that was previously associated with the derby is now a thing of the past, and December 21 will be a fresh start for Newcastle and Sunderland fans and the beginning of a new era of positivity.

The Northumbria Police officer believes festive cheer, coupled with the generosity Black Cats fans displayed following the plane crash deaths of NUFC followers John Alder and Liam Sweeney, will create a new atmosphere of mutual respect between supporters.

And he now wants to give the derby back to the fans.

Chief Supt Neill said: “My message to fans is this; It’s your derby. These are always fantastic occasions and it’s going to be even more so this year.

“It is December 21, people are going to be excited about Christmas, and people will be excited for the football match and I want that excitement to really come through on the day and for it to be a really positive experience for everyone, that’s the ethos of the whole police operation. The fans want the passion of the derby but some of the things that have happened in previous years now need to be consigned to history. The disorder of 2013 reflected badly on everybody concerned.”

“We need to use Christmas and the very sad deaths of Liam Sweeney and John Alder and make sure December 21 is a positive legacy for the future. This is about two groups of passionate supporters coming together. And having the sheer number of such passionate football fans in such close proximity is a great thing to celebrate. This is the tenth derby I have had the privilege to command and it does feel different. I’m absolutely confident this will be a fantastic showcase for the passion of North East football fans.”

The tense rivalry between the Toon Army and their rivals on Wearside has meant there has always been a huge meticulously planned policing operation whenever the two teams meet.

For previous fixtures SAFC fans choosing to travel to Newcastle by rail have been told to use specially assigned trains. And the army of away supporters are then escorted to St James’ Park surrounded by a wall of police officers on horses and on foot.

But the approach, ahead of the 1.30pm kick-off, will be different this year.

Police are still encouraging Black Cats fans to use the free coaches provided by the club, which leave from the Stadium of Light at 11.15am, saying this will be the quickest and cheapest way to travel from Sunderland to Newcastle and back, on derby day.

However, those choosing to plan their own journey to the city will now be able to make their own way to St James’ Park and use the same Metros, buses and trains as other passengers.

And Chief Supt Neill will brief all officers working in Sunderland and Newcastle next Sunday to chat with fans and share their excitement.

“The police engagement strategy will be very friendly and very festive,” he continued. “We have always tried to do the operation ‘with’ the fans not ‘to’ the fans. And the officers working in Sunderland before the game will set the tone for the whole day. We are not going out on some sort of battle footing.”

In the run-up to the derby police have held a number of meetings with both black and white and red and white fans’ groups.

And Chief Supt Neill says he has asked the supporters to tell him how they would like to see the match policed.

But the real turning-point in the relationship between the once bitter rivals came this summer, when devoted Newcastle fans John and Liam lost their lives travelling to watch their team play in New Zealand.

The MH17 plane tragedy prompted Sunderland supporter Gary Ferguson to begin a fund-raising drive in memory of the victims. And football fans on Wearside put their rivalries aside to donate tens of thousands of pounds.

The Football Supporters Federation (FSF) have already coined the phrase “A Derby To Be Proud Of” as they host meetings between the two sets of supporters.

And Chief Supt Neill is confident the message will be heeded.

“There has definitely been a shift this time,” he said. “Both myself and the officers that speak to fans on a daily basis can feel that. The money raised by Sunderland fans after the Malaysian Airlines tragedy sent out a really strong message to Newcastle fans that they felt their pain.

“The work we have done over the last few months with the fans has been very positively received. They have come up with ideas and as a result of that we feel it’s going to be a really positive derby.”

Busiest shopping day

While the derby may be the only thing on many minds on December 21, it is only one part of the policing operation being planned for Newcastle that day.

With thousands of people expected to visit the city on what is usually the second busiest shopping day of the year, Chief Supt Steve Neill’s main priority will be to keep people moving.

He said the policing operation is one of the scale put in place for 2012’s Olympic Torch Relay, and extends far beyond the boundaries of Newcastle and Sunderland city centres.

“It’s just going to be very busy,” he said. “The derby is just one part of what will be a very big operation. The priority for me is making sure that people can get to where they are going as quickly as possible. Our role is to ensure everybody can come into the city, go shopping, have a meal or enjoy a few drinks without the fear or becoming involved in violence or disorder. And I’m confident that will happen.”

“We do advise that, although it will be business as usual, the cities may be busier than normal. Our advice is to make plans in advance on how to travel into the city centres and allow a little extra time to get around.”

Newcastle City Council will be providing additional car-parking spaces.

And as part of Tyne and Wear Metro’s Christmas timetable there will be extra scheduled trains across the system.