21 October 2002 Known hooligans were arrested in a police operation to crack down on violence during yesterday's Division One clash between Nottingham Forest and Derby County. Police received information that rival gangs were to clash on the outskirts of Derby ahead of the sell-out game at Pride Park. The Derby troublemakers never turned up for the anticipated showdown but scores of known Forest hooligans descended on Ilkeston to watch the game on television. Police officers had to move in at the Ilkeston Social Club after fighting broke out towards the end of the match. Bottles were thrown at officers and many of the troublemakers refused to disperse, leading to 27 arrests for public order offences and breach of the peace. Meanwhile, three Forest fans and five Derby supporters were arrested inside Pride Park for violent conduct offences. Derbyshire police took the decision to arrest the people in Ilkeston for breach of the peace to stop the trouble spilling into the town centre or the centre of Derby later in the evening. Inspector Mark Holland, of Notts police, travelled with police "spotters" to support the Derbyshire police-led operation. He said: "A few of these troublemakers in Ilkeston had tickets for the game but never intended to get there. Their motives were to simply engage in fights. "We knew where the hooligans would be and we managed to keep them all in one place. "The arrests were made in the interest of public safety and helped make sure they could not engage in further trouble later in the day." Derbyshire police brought the three Forest supporters arrested for violent conduct at Pride Park stadium back to Nottingham.