Summer crackdown on 'drunken yobs' begins

A summer-long campaign to tackle alcohol-fuelled disorder in town and city centres starts this weekend.

Police forces throughout England and Wales will target drunken and yobbish behaviour during Euro 2004, and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Home Office are set to roll out a concerted enforcement campaign.

Police action around Euro 2004 will include high profile policing of any large screen or public events, increased policing of known ‘hotspots’ on England match days, and targeting of known troublemakers.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said: We've taken decisive action to reduce to a minimum the likelihood of serious disorder during Euro 2004 games and have had tremendous co-operation from the Portuguese police and security authorities. We are reinforcing this in the days ahead as our police officers work closely on the ground with their Portuguese counterparts. I will be attending England’s first game on Sunday to see first hand the extensive preparations we have made to minimise the risk of disorder in Portugal."

The enforcement campaign, starting in early July, will target around 70 local police areas where tackling alcohol-related disorder is a priority. The police, working with local partners such as trading standards and the alcohol industry, will tackle aggressively the individuals who drink irresponsibly and the problem bars and clubs who encourage them.

Currently a record number of individuals – 2,700 – will be prevented from travelling to football matches abroad. The stepping up of the use of the UK’s football banning laws is part of the most extensive multi-agency preparations ever for an overseas football tournament, made possible by an unprecedented level of co-operation between the UK and Portuguese authorities, the Home Office said.

(gmcg)