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| June 08, 2006 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1427 |
Banned hooligans land in Germany
NEUSS, June 7: The head of the German police unit monitoring hooliganism said on Wednesday that five banned English troublemakers and possibly more were believed to have entered Germany.
They are all subject to banning orders, which are central to the British government's drive to curb hooliganism and prevent known troublemakers from leaving the country by obliging them to surrender their passports.
British authorities issued some 3,300 banning orders ahead of the World Cup but not all those affected have handed over their passports.
Michael Endler, head of the ZIS information centre, said about 180 passports were still missing.“Of these 180 individuals, five have entered Germany according to our information.”
He added: “We don't yet know how they entered Germany. We are trying to find out where they are and whether any more than five have managed to get in.”
Commander Bob Broadhurst, leading the London police operation against World Cup-related violence, told reporters in Heathrow airport on Wednesday morning: “A very small number will get through, Britain is a small island.”
Dozens of officers are being stationed at English ports and airports and others are working in “transit countries” such as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.
Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said the record of violence by England fans abroad had been good since football banning orders were introduced.
But he warned English hooligans: “If you are trying to go to Germany to cause problems, then we will be doing our utmost to stop you travelling.”
Endler played down concerns about the missing English passports, saying banning orders had so far been 95 percent effective.—Reuters
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