Women police on England duty

Korean police preparing for English football hooligans during next year's World Cup finals plan to tackle the problem with a firm but feminine approach.

In a move which could be taken straight from a James Bond movie, Korean security officials are to deploy a special task force of women officers, all of whom will be skilled at martial arts.

Up to 10,000 England fans could make the trek to the Far East next June for the four-week competition.

Strict vetting procedures will be applied by the Football Association and the British Government but some troublemakers are certain to slip through the net.

As officials from around the world gathered here for today's announcement of the seeds for the tournament, the Korean National Police Agency revealed that they will deploy a special unit of women officers, all trained in Taekwondo.

Byung-Taik Lin, a spokesman for the Korean World Cup organising committee, confirmed: "We have a special women task force which is part of the national police agency. They will be deployed to control the 'front line' to control the situation with hooligans."