Football hooligans warned

English and Italian fans clashed last October

Soccer fans are being urged to inform on football hooligans in the run-up to this summer's World Cup finals in France.

The British Home Secretary Jack Straw said the National Criminal Intelligence Service was relaunching its confidential telephone Hooligan Hotline.

Straw: "we know who you are."

Speaking at an international conference on World Cup policing at Blackburn, he said: "The hotline will give an opportunity for the decent supporter to give information on others, who do not plan to be decent supporters, on a confidential basis.

"I know the National Criminal Intelligence Service have in the past obtained some very useful intelligence from calls to the hotline," he said.

The Hooligan Hotline number for England and Wales is 0800 515495. In Scotland, Crimestoppers will run a similar service on 0800 555111.

Mr Straw also announced a £1m advertising campaign to promote safety and security at the games.

Anglo-French cooperation

Mr Straw said the government was negotiating with the French on an agreement to help prevent hooligans convicted in France from then returning to that country to cause further disruption during the tournament.

He said only those with tickets should travel.

"Travelling without tickets is a waste of time as each ticket has the name of the holder on the ticket," he said.

"My message to the hooligan is simple: we know who you are, we know what your plans are and we will do everything we can to stop you bringing shame and disgrace to this country."