The newly elected Police and Crime Commissioners for Cheshire and North Wales plan to tackle the issue of 'bubble match' restrictions imposed on derby matches between Chester FC and Wrexham.

Labour's David Keane was named PCC for Cheshire on Friday, defeating the previous incumbent, Conservative John Dwyer, by 2,949 votes. In North Wales, Plaid Cymru's Arfon Jones, who has been vocal in his opposition to bubble matches, enjoyed a landslide victory.

Fans of both Chester FC and Wrexham have been transported to away games by police escort in a bid to stamp out crowd trouble that has blighted some encounters in previous years.

Mr Keane and Mr Jones are set to take up their new PCC posts on Thursday (May 12), and opening dialogue on how to police cross-border derbies between the Blues and Wrexham is high on the agenda for both men.

Police at October's Chester FC v Wrexham AFC clash
Police at October's Chester FC v Wrexham AFC clash

Mr Keane, who polled 84,601 votes to Mr Dwyer's 81,652 on Friday, said: "The bubble match restrictions are something that I feel needs reviewing again as I it was an issue that was raised during my campaign.

"I am really keen to revisit this issue and keen to meet the Police and Crime Commissioner in North Wales (Mr Jones) to try to see if there is any that can be done.

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"I am a believer that freedom should not be restricted but I need to sit down with the chief constable (Simon Byrne) and understand fully the issues faced and why these restrictions have been put in place in the first place.

Wrexham coaches arrive at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium for the October clash
Wrexham coaches arrive at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium for the October clash

"I am a football fan, though, and I am keen to get the views of the clubs and fans to see if there is a better way that we could be doing things. It is something that is a high priority for me to address."

Meeting with his Cheshire counterpart is also a key objective for Mr Jones, a Wrexham supporter who has been a vocal critic of the bubble match restrictions since they were introduced in 2013.

Mr Jones believes that Cheshire Constabulary can learn from Merseyside Police in how to handle derby games, with neither Chester or Wrexham clashes with Tranmere Rovers being subject to bubble match restrictions last season.

Heavy police presence at a previous Chester FC v Wrexham match
Heavy police presence at a previous Chester FC v Wrexham match

"I am looking to forward to meeting David Keane and trying to get this situation addressed and looked at again, it is very high on my agenda," said Mr Jones.

"This issue has been calling out for some meaningful discussions around it and that is what I will be seeking to do, for the benefit of Wrexham and Chester fans who have been subjected to these restrictions for too long.

"I think that looking towards how Merseyside Police handle large crowds and derby games would be a good start and trying to get some sharing of information and best practice as to how to do it right."