Hooligan operation: 46 more charged

Stoke City's Britannia Stadium, where trouble flared

More fans from Wales have been arrested in connection with the biggest football hooligan inquiry ever launched.

Police have revealed that a further 51 people have been arrested following the second division match between Stoke City and Cardiff City last April.

All of those arrested as part of Operation Javelin were from the South Wales and Gwent Police force areas.

Police issued pictures of 64 Cardiff suspects

A total of 46 men were charged with violent disorder and are due to appear before Stoke-on-Trent magistrates between 26 March and 2 April.

Two men were bailed pending further inquiries and three men were released with no further action.

Police say further arrests will be made in the next few weeks.

The arrests come as part of the high-profile operation launched jointly by Staffordshire Police and South Wales Police, following the match at Stoke's Britannia Stadium.

Violent outbursts in and around the ground resulted in 27 members of the public and 12 police officers being injured.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to property.

Staffordshire Police said on Thursday that the 29 charged had been bailed to appear before Stoke-on-Trent magistrates on a date to be fixed.

Voluntary surrender

Another three who were arrested have been released on police bail pending further inquiries, while two were released without charge.

Detective Inspector Phil Lee of Staffordshire Police, said appointments had been made for a further 15 suspects to voluntarily surrender themselves in the next few days.

He added that a total of eight people shown in 64 pictures of suspects released to the media in south Wales still remained unidentified.

"Police have received overwhelming support from the public, which has led to the majority being identified. Eight remain unidentified and we still need further help from the public in relation to this matter," he said.

Officers clashed with fans at the game

The clashes in and around Stoke's Britannia Stadium resulted in 27 members of the public being injured and damage to property in the Stoke-on-Trent area, which ran into thousands of pounds.

Operation Javelin has so far resulted in the arrests of more than 100 supporters from both clubs and dozens have already been convicted of public and violent disorder offences.

Those convicted received fines and bans from attending sporting fixtures for up to 10 years.

Police inquiries have been continuing since the match almost a year ago.

A total of 29 people were arrested at the ground, but video evidence showed that hundreds more were involved.

The officers later mounted a series of dawn raids on homes in south Wales and made more arrests.

Later police released 64 photographs - taken from CCTV cameras - of others wanted for questioning.

Several people came forward of their own accord, and police received many other calls from members of the public who recognised faces.