Four hundred banned Yorkshire football fans must hand in passports before Ireland friendly

NEARLY 400 banned football fans from around Yorkshire and the Humber will be forced to report to a local police station when England play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.
The Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where Sunday's friendly will be playedThe Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where Sunday's friendly will be played
The Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where Sunday's friendly will be played

A total of 385 people in the region have been handed football banning orders as part of efforts to stop potential troublemakers travelling to football matches at home and abroad.

Ahead of this weekend’s England friendly, they have been told to hand in their passports by the end of today. If they fail to do so they face arrest, unless they have been given an exemption.

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The banned fans, who had orders imposed on them after previously being involved in disorder, also have to report to a police station on match-day between 10am and kick-off at 1pm.

For England’s European Championship qualifying match against Slovenia in Ljubljana on June 14, banned individuals have to report to their chosen police station and hand over their passports on either June 9 or 10, but do not have to attend on match-day.

In West Yorkshire, 59 Leeds United supporters and 39 Bradford City fans are subject to football banning orders, along with 39 from Huddersfield Town and 11 from Halifax Town.

Football Intelligence Officer PC Paul Barclay said: “Football Banning Orders are a vital tool in reducing crime and disorder around fixtures by allowing us prevent those previously involved in causing disorder from attending matches.”

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South Yorkshire Police say 15 Barnsley fans are subject to football banning orders, Sheffield Wednesday 33, Sheffield United 31, Doncaster Rovers 21 and Rotherham United 18.

Humberside Police told The Yorkshire Post that 29 Hull City fans have been handed the orders, 34 Scunthorpe United supporters and Grimsby Town fans 40.

In North Yorkshire, a total of 16 people are subject to banning orders. Seven are York City supporters, five Leeds United fans, while the remaining four support Huddersfield Town, Manchester United, Middlesbrough and Stoke City.

Detective Constable Kevan Howe, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “All 16 individuals who are subject to Football Banning Orders in the North Yorkshire Police area have been notified in writing about these extra measures for the games against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.

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“They are known to pose a serious risk of causing trouble at England football matches, particularly at fixtures played overseas.

“Working alongside the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit, we will do everything in our power to enforce Football Banning Orders including arresting people if necessary.”

Banning orders are issued by the courts following a conviction for a football-related offence, or after a complaint by the Crown Prosecution Service or a local police force.

For an order to be issued, it must be proved that the accused person has caused or contributed to football-related violence or disorder and that an order will prevent them from misbehaving further.

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Orders can last between three and 10 years and can be customised to address individual behaviour patterns. Breach of an order is a criminal offence and is punishable by a maximum sentence of six months in prison.