Police act to curb hooliganism at World Cup
| Published: 3rd September 2008 14:14 |
England's bid to win through starts this weekend when England travel to Barcelona to play Andorra on Saturday.
This is followed by a trip to Zagreb to play Croatia on Wednesday September 10.
Avon and Somerset police will be supporting national ports operations to ensure that fans who are subject to football banning orders do not try to leave the country.
The police will once again be working in partnership with Bristol International Airport and other police forces to ensure a physical presence at the airport to reassure bona fide fans and other travellers flying from the airport.
Avon and Somerset police's football intelligence desk officer Roger Thayer said: "The high-profile operation will also seek to identify and prevent those from travelling those who it is believed may cause violence and disorder in the host cities for games or where intelligence has highlighted possible locations for potential disorder."
All 53 people who are subject to football banning orders in the Avon and Somerset police force area were required to hand in their passports to a nominated police station and will be further required to sign-on at a nominated police station on the England match days. Their passport will be returned to them on the day of the second match.
"Lists of those with a football banning order who fail to surrender their passports are circulated by the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit. Police will be at airports and sea ports looking out for anyone in receipt of a banning order who tries to leave the country and they will be arrested and this could lead to a further court appearance," said Roger.
A football banning order prevents attendance at any regulated match for a period of between three and five years - if the individual is not subjected to a custodial sentence. For those who are imprisoned the banning order extends to a period of between six and 10 years.
Roger Thayer added: "Other conditions requested on a FBO may include exclusion zones around stadia before and after home fixtures, a day-long ban on travel to towns and cities, where away matches are being played.
"Additionally, people arrested as part of a football-related incident, which could include an assault during a televised football game in a pub may also become subject to a FBO application," he said.
The police in Avon and Somerset work closely with football colleagues across the country to identify and build intelligence profiles on known "risk" supporters and those on the fringes. This enables the police to help create a safe and enjoyable environment for those genuinely going to watch football games, both inside and outside the Avon and Somerset police force area.
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