Midlands football thugs to have passports seized

Three hundred violent football thugs from Staffordshire and the West Midlands will have their passports seized to prevent them from travelling to next month's European Championships, it emerged today.

Police forces are taking the measure to reduce the risk of disorder when England compete in Poland and the Ukraine.

Thugs will have to take passports to a police station during specified "surrender days" taking place for offenders from the West Midlands on Monday and Tuesday.

Officers say they will vigorously enforce the surrender of travel documentation and that action would be taken against those who fail to hand it in.

A small team of offices from the West Midlands will also travel to eastern Europe.

They will be part of an international policing contingent to help police the massive event.

Authorities in Poland and the Ukraine will fund the contingent, which are being sent to support the local police operations to ensure a safe and trouble-free tournament.

Figures show there are in the region of 250 hooligans who have been prosecuted for causing trouble before in the West Midlands, during and after games.

They include scores of Wolves, Villa, Albion, Birmingham and Walsall yobs. There are a further 74 from Staffordshire.

All of them will have to hand in their passports.

The Association of Chief Police Officers lead on football, Assistant Chief Constable Andy Holt, will head the UK team travelling out to Poland and the Ukraine.

He said: "The reality is that the overwhelming majority of England fans heading to Euro 2012 are there to support the national team and the game of football. Those who engage in any trouble must realise that they will feel the full force of local policing laws."

By Crime Correspondent Shaun Jepson