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Hooligans

Football fans with Banning Orders have got until tomorrow to hand in their passports ahead of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland.

There's just 24 hours left for 60 people with football banning orders in Bristol to hand in their passports to police.This is ahead of England's Euro 2012 qualifying game in Switzerland next week.

The passports have to be handed into the police station before the cut-off date, September 3rd. The operation is designed to crack down on fans with banning order being able to travel and keep the community safe.

The operation comes just a week after the successful prosecution which led to a Bristol football fan being jailed for seven months after breaching a three year football ban.

Kevin Crehan a 28-year-old admitted breaching his FBO, by being inside the exclusion zone around Ashton Gate before the Bristol City v Millwall match on August 7th; being in possession of an offensive weapon shortly after a fight had occurred between City and Millwall fans in Ashton Road;  for stealing a DVD; and failing to report to a police station while the World Cup was being held in South Africa.

In addition to his being jailed for seven months he was given a six year FBO which is to run concurrently with his existing three-year FBO.

Force football Officer Roger Thayer said: " This should send out a strong message to those who have football banning orders in the Avon and Somerset Police force area that we remain relentless in our efforts to stamp out football-related anti social behaviour.

"We have 60 people who have FBO's who will be required to hand in their passports - or seek exemptions, to their local police stations by September 3rd, ahead of England's Euro 2012 qualifying game in Switzerland," said the Force Football Officer.

Roger also added: "Those who have FBOs in Avon and Somerset know that they need to contact their local police stations ahead of England's away games. Sometimes 'risk fans' from outside this force area may try to fly from Bristol but we will be ready.

Anyone with a FBO who does not surrender their passport or obtain an exemption could be arrested under the conditions of their banning orders and may face fines or even a custodial sentence.This could cause there banning order to be extended .

The police will be with Bristol Airport to prevent these individuals from travelling to Switzerland. The police will be employing special security passport scanning machines to highlight potential hooligans.

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