Portugese cops at airports

Portugese police will be stationed at UK airports and ferry ports with the power to stop England fans going to Euro 2004.

The officers are being given unprecedented authority to prevent any supporter they suspect of being a hooligan from leaving this country.

They will be able to ban fans whether or not English police have suspicions about them.

The Football Association has been warned that England will be thrown out of the tournament if there is major trouble involving its fans.

Today's move was revealed by the Home Office as it imposed a record number of orders banning suspected hooligans from leaving England during the championships in Portugal next month.

More than 2,700 England supporters will be prevented from travelling to Euro 2004 by the courts as part of a £5 million clampdown on hooliganism.

This compares with only 100 suspects who were stopped from going to Euro 2000 in Holland and Belgium - a tournament marred by clashes involving England fans.

Today the Home Office and police officers who are working on keeping England fans out of trouble revealed the strategy they are relying on to curb hooliganism. For the first time ever Portuguese immigration and border police will work alongside English officers at airports and ferry ports.

Home Office minister Caroline Flint said the decision to deny departure from England would be a matter for the Portuguese authorities.

They will also be told about criminal convictions for violence, public disorder or other serious offences of anyone passing through airports by police stationed there.

Ms Flint said: "Any individual with convictions for violence or public order offences who is not subject to a football banning order and who tries to elude the policing operation at the ports will be intercepted.

"The message is clear - any individual who has previously caused or contributed to violence or disorder in connection with a football match at home or abroad should not attempt to travel."

From today, Portugal has re-introduced strict passport checks for all visitors to the country in case hooligans try to slip in before the championships.

David Swift, deputy chief constab le of Staffordshire police and head of the English policing, of Euro 2004, said some supporters arrested at last weekend's FA Cup final were also being fast-tracked through the banning order system to stop them going to Portugal.

He said: "It is in everyone's interest to work together to make Euro 2004 memorable for what happens on and not off the pitch."

After the 2000 tournament a Home Office study found that swift action by local police to head off trouble could prevent more serious violence.

Mr Swift said the Portuguese police would take a "pro-active approach" when dealing with England fans.

Currently 2,188 supporters are subject to football banning orders which prevent them from leaving England and Wales.

They are required to report to police stations and surrender their passports five days before the first ball is kicked on 12 June.

A further 500 supporters are being processed by police and their bail restrictions include a ban on travel.