Thursday, June 10, 2010

WORLD CUP LOUTS WARNED TO BE ON BEST BEHAVIOUR

FOOTBALL louts are being warned to be on their best behaviour as Coventry Police is appealing to landlords, supermarkets and community shop bosses to back the World Cup bid.

Officers have written to licensees to remind them of their responsibility as England strive for glory in South Africa, so they play their part in ensuring a trouble-free tournament.

Chief Inspector Ryan Howat, heading the police handling of the World Cup in Coventry, said: “Our licensing team will be working closely with licensed and off-licensed premises during the World Cup.

“We hope the tournament will prove to be a good opportunity for our communities to come
together and get behind the England team in a positive way.

“The nature of football is that it is an emotional game, and as such we are prepared for the possibility of fans becoming tense and agitated.

“Across the West Midlands, there have been sporadic outbreaks of trouble where major England games have been shown before, but as a region our fans are increasingly heeding the message.

“We want people to enjoy the games in a safe environment with, hopefully, England going all the way.

“If they can’t and allow themselves to become involved in disorder either through drink or a misplaced sense of patriotism, then they can expect to be prosecuted.”

Councillor Jack Harrison, chairman of Coventry City Council’s licensing and regulatory committee, added: “The key issue for us is that premises showing the World Cup do so in a safe
and responsible way while not ruining the enjoyment of their customers and the wider public.

“Bars showing the big games have been asked to ensure they have enough identifiable door staff and that their CCTV is working.”

The force is working with the Coventry Community Safety Partnership and will be distributing posters and beer mats to licensed premises across the city bearing the message ‘Not in My City’.

They encourage people to report aggressive and violent behaviour during the World Cup.

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