§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Department is taking to work with and assist the Portugese authorities in policing the Euro 2004 football tournament. [172493]
§ Caroline FlintMulti-agency preparations for Euro 2004, co-ordinated by the Home Office, have been under way for two years. The preparations will be the most extensive ever for an overseas tournament and incorporate very close and effective liaison with the Portuguese Government, police and other authorities.
A joint communique on Anglo/Portuguese police co-operation, signed in February 2004 by the Minister of State for policing and her Portuguese counterpart, identified some key measures designed to minimise the risk of significant disorder involving England fans. These measures centred on maximum use of tough banning order legislation to prevent around 2,500 known English football troublemakers from traveling 610W to the tournament and the deployment in Portugal of an English police delegation expert in policing English football crowds.