Police step up 'hooligan' checks

Up to 60,000 England fans are expected at the tournament

Police have stepped up checks at all UK ports and airports as thousands of England fans leave for the Euro 2004 championships in Portugal.

Officers are on the lookout for known or suspected hooligans subject to banning orders, and are also carrying out background checks on other fans.

The Home Office said that 13 people's departures had so far been stopped.

A spokesman said two of these had received bans, bringing the total number of banning orders to 2,312.

Four more of the 13 have been bailed with restrictions preventing travel while their cases are considered; the outcome of court proceedings are awaited in the remaining seven cases.

'Slick operation'

Some 50,000 England fans are expected in Portugal in time for the side's opening match against France in Lisbon on Sunday.

The operation at Britain's ports to keep potential offenders at home began on Monday.

That's the end of their so-called holiday and potential problem-making in Portugal Inspector Simon Morley, commenting on banning orders

At Gatwick Airport, Sussex police's Inspector Simon Morley said: "The aim of the overall operation is to provide a safe, trouble-free environment for anybody who is travelling to the football.

"Our officers are based within the airport terminals, they are stopping and engaging in conversation with travelling members of the public to find out why they are going.

"If they are going to the football, [officers] find out a little bit more about their background and check to see that they are not actually known hooligans or have any previous convictions or have any problems with relation to violence or violent disorder."

A record number of banning orders have been issued, which stop known or suspected hooligans attending domestic and some international matches, including Euro 2004 games.

"That's the end of their so-called holiday and potential problem-making in Portugal," Inspector Morley said.

Sven warning

He said he thought efforts by British police to combat hooliganism had improved enormously since the last European championships in 2000.

"I see things looking far better and slicker ... building up information about known individuals, but this operation is also about picking up people who may not necessarily have come to the notice of the police or other agencies."

Euro 2000 witnessed violent scenes involving England fans

The British diplomat responsible for smoothing relations between English fans and the Portuguese authorities said 99.5% of fans were "perfectly well-behaved and out for a good time".

Football attaché Gary Fisher said: "We feel positive and we're reasonably confident that this tournament will pass off well."

But he admitted: "We're not expecting a clean slate. It would be unrealistic not to expect problems with 50,000 to 60,000 people, just as you get disorder and excessive alcohol consumption in some holiday resorts or in some British cities on a Saturday night."

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson warned supporters earlier this week that the team could be kicked out of the tournament if fans misbehaved.