Executive ready with banning orders to deter football hooligans

FOOTBALL hooligans are to be banned from travelling to matches in Scotland in order to stamp out violence at grounds.

The Scottish Executive is to introduce the banning orders - already used south of the Border - following pressure from senior police officers alarmed at the rising tide of violence caused by so-called soccer casuals.

In recent months top-flight clubs in the SPL have expressed concern that hooliganism threatens to tarnish the Scottish game unless new measures are brought in to control the minority of fans set on violence.

Ricky Gray, assistant chief constable of Strathclyde Police and the chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland football committee, said the introduction of banning orders would be a formidable weapon against the hooligans.

He said: "This is a significant problem and we are very keen to introduce banning orders to deal with it.

"The Scottish Executive are extremely supportive of our proposals and it is imperative that supporters and players can enjoy match in a safe and secure environment."

John Morgan, the chairman of the Football Safety Officers’ Association Scotland, said: "Banning orders are a way forward and we look forward to this coming into being.

"There has certainly been an upturn in the number of casuals who attend matches and cause trouble outside grounds.

"They will try anything to get into grounds but these are not real fans, they are hooligans using football for their own ends."

In England, police can prevent known hooligans from attending games under the Football Disorder Act 2000. They also have powers to prevent them travelling abroad. The measures are believed to have reduced violence both at and around English matches.

Banning orders, which allow passports to be confiscated and can last for up to ten years, proved effective during the recent European Championships in Portugal.

Flouting the ban can result in up to six months in jail and a fine of up to 5,000.

However, one expert said that banning orders would not deter hooligans from causing trouble.

Professor Ellis Cashmore, from Staffordshire University, said: "I think that where there’s a will there’s a way, and these crews have a lot of guile about them. It’s part of their existence."