Clamp down on Harrogate football troublemakers ahead of England fixtures

Fans in Harrogate face extra police measures for England's upcoming fixtures

There are currently three individuals in Harrogate subject to Football Banning orders who will now have to report to police stations in North Yorkshire.

The fans from Harrogate will have to sign in on match day at the station between 10am and 1pm as well as the usual requirement of surrendering their passports.

In addition to this, the fans will be forced to surrender their passports on either Tuesday, June 2 or Wednesday June 3.

Unless they have obtained an exemption from the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), failure to surrender their passport will constitute a breach of their banning order and they face arrest.

England will play against the Republic of Ireland in a friendly on June 7 and the police are keen to clamp down on troublemakers.

The extra measures put in place by police comes after a ‘deterioration in fan behaviour’ during England’s last four away games.

For the England fixture against Slovenia in Ljubljana on Sunday 14 June, banned individuals have to report to their elected police station and handover their passports on either Tuesday 9 June or Wednesday 10 June.

However those on Football Banning Orders do not have to report to a police station on match day on this occasion.

Detective Constable Kevan Howe, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “All 16 individuals who are subject to Football Banning Orders in the North Yorkshire Police area have been notified in writing about these extra measures for the games against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.

“They are known to pose a serious risk of causing trouble at England football matches, particularly at fixtures played overseas.

“Working alongside the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit, we will do everything in our power to enforce Football Banning Orders including arresting people if necessary.”

The match in Dublin poses a particular risk for authorities after a riot broke out twenty years ago during a friendly between the two teams.

Forty people were arrested after seats were ripped up and missiles thrown during the first half of the game at Lansdowne Road on February 15, 1995.

There are currently 16 individuals subject to Football Banning Orders who have to report to police stations in North Yorkshire - eight in York, four in Northallerton, three in Harrogate and one in Scarborough.