Hooligan bill comes into force

Some English fans rampaged during Euro 2000

Controversial police powers to stop suspected soccer hooligans travelling abroad come into force in England and Wales on Monday.

Officers will be able to stop both suspected and known troublemakers from leaving the country, with the introduction of a new banning order.

The Football Disorder Act was rushed through Parliament in the wake of the Euro 2000 tournament, in time for England's match against France in Paris next week.

But they are expected to be used sparingly in the run-up to match, with officers targeting ringleaders who they have been unable to bring to court in the past.

Home Secretary Jack Straw: Criticised for rushing through the measures

The new act gives police the power to arrest anyone they think may be travelling abroad to cause trouble at a match and take their passport off them in the five days leading up to an international fixture.

Suspected hooligans can then be taken to court and banned from attending overseas matches for up to 10 years.

Home Office Minister Lord Bassam told BBC News 24 that he felt it was right for police to have powers to stop people who are drunk or disorderly and check if they have a history of causing trouble at football matches.

He said: "It [the law] will give police additional powers to carry out their job. It will enable them to target those who are likely to cause these problems, such as those causing mayhem on the streets of Charleroi in the summer."

England football fans were sprayed with water cannon by police in Belgium during the Euro 2000 soccer tournament after they went on the rampage in a local square.

Ron Hogg of the Association of Chief Police Officers said police will be looking to stop "organisers who are starting the trouble then moving into the background when police move in".

Forces will pass details of thugs operating on their patch to the National Criminal Intelligence Service, and operations will be "intelligence-led" in the run-up to the friendly at the Stade de France, he added.

Monday's Bank Holiday has also put extra pressure on magistrates courts which will have to hear applications to ban any fans prevented from travelling.

Criticism

This is expected to affect how many suspected football hooligans are brought before the courts by the police.

"It is quite simply a fact of logistics and time constraints," said Mr Hogg.

"Every one of these actions has to go before a magistrates court and magistrates courts' time is already committed for next week."

But the law has been criticised by civil liberties campaigners after ministers admitted even tattoos, or what a fan was wearing could lead to their journey abroad being halted by the police.

Lord Bassam said: "We think these powers are right and proportionate. Frankly I think there is widespread public support for tough measures against those who want to disrupt proper football fans."