Midland football yobs held over passport failure

A convicted football hooligan from Walsall was among three men arrested today in a series of police raids across the West Midlands to prevent them travelling to next month's European Championships.

A 41-year-old Birmingham City fan was detained in High Street, Walsall, along with a 43-year-old from Wolverhampton and an 18-year-old from Sheldon, Birmingham.

The Birmingham City fan was issued with a ban in November 2010 after a violent disorder, but failed to surrender his passport to police.

Officers were today looking for the remaining few fans who have avoided doing so until now.

West Midlands Police spokesman Brigg Ford said eight officers from the force's dedicated football offence squad started executing warrants in the early hours.

"Around 98 per cent of the people ordered to hand in their passports have done so either voluntarily or had them seized – by far the most we have ever had before a major tournament," he said.

"The message is that you cannot ignore these orders – they are non-negotiable."

Anyone who has been made subject to a Football Banning Order is required to hand over their passport ahead of a major overseas competition.

Police forces take the measure to reduce the risk of disorder. They hope to prevent any trouble when England compete in Poland and the Ukraine in the coming weeks.

A total of 250 people across the region are currently subject to a banning order after being involved in trouble before, during or after matches and 215 were told to hand in their passports.

A further 35 either do not have current passports or are behind bars and so do not need to hand over their passport.

The Wolverhampton-based Wolves fan, who was arrested at an address in Wednesfield, was issued with his Football Banning Order in May 2010, after being involved in a clash with rival West Bromwich fans.

By Charlotte Cross