Football troublemakers warned not to travel to Germany

Date published: 17/11/2008

High risk football supporters planning to travel to Berlin for the England football team's upcoming match against Germany have been warned not to attend.

Operation Wigmore will target known or potential troublemakers travelling from Manchester Airport. Any identified will be prevented from travelling, have their passport seized and will be required to attend Manchester Magistrates' Court within 24 hours. We will make an application to the court for a football banning order, which if granted, lasts between three to five years.

To enforce this intelligence led operation, plain clothed Football Intelligence and uniformed police officers will be stationed at the airport from Monday 17 November 2008 until the game is finished on the Wednesday evening.

Furthermore, during this period, Greater Manchester Police will also be rigorously enforcing banning orders that restrict the movements of known troublemakers before the match.

The Football Banning Order Authority (UKFBOA) has sent out letters to specific people who are subject to Banning Orders. The recipients must follow certain courses of action, such as reporting to a police station on the day of the match and surrendering their passport. Any breaches of the conditions will be treated seriously.

During the Champions League Final earlier this year, GMP spotters in Moscow identified a known troublemaker out of the thousands of fans in attendance and established he had travelled using a false passport. He was later given six months in prison. The fact we were able to identify a known troublemaker among the thousands of fans in Moscow and bring about a successful conviction shows we will not tolerate football hooligans at home or abroad.

Detective Inspector Kevin Fitzpatrick, of GMP's Football Intelligence Unit, said: "GMP is committed to preventing known or potential troublemakers from travelling to Berlin for this fixture. On a regular basis we have previously identified and subsequently banned these individuals at court.

"That is why we will be closely monitoring those travelling to Berlin for the game at the airport. The message is clear: anyone who is trying to travel who is either a person subject to a football banning order or a known troublemaker will be identified and punished appropriately.

"That said the majority of fans travelling will be law abiding genuine supporters. We are determined to stop known troublemakers from spoiling the enjoyment of matches for genuine fans."