THIRTY people whom British police believe "without a shadow of a doubt" orchestrated violence at a premiership football match earlier this year were arrested in the Newcastle and Tyneside area yesterday, writes Rachel Donnelly in London.
Anxious to deter the organisers of football hooliganism before the start of the Euro '96 championships next month, Newcastle police put "Operation Harvest" into operation following analysis of closed circuit television footage of the Tottenham Hotspur versus Newcastle United match on May 5th. During the match and in some city centre areas in Newcastle afterwards, as many as 290 football fans were filmed committing variety of offences ranging from violent disorder to burglary.
A spokesman for Newcastle police said the operation was the "largest undertaking of this kind". He said that during the raid the police had also found machetes imitation firearms and forged bank notes, which he described as "a real bonus". The chief superintendent of Newcastle police, Mr Peter Durham, said 100 officers had been involved in the operation and that it would serve as "a marker" to all football hooligans in advance of Euro `96.
Mr Durham warned football hooligans that "they have not got away with it. I am sure there are people who think that they are going to have an opportunity to cause trouble, but this operation sends them the very strongest signal for Euro `96."
This "first wave" of arrests, Mr Durham said, were "specifically targeted" at those who had participated in the violence of May 5th. He also admitted that there was a possibility that with the help of CCTV footage more arrests would be made in the future. A public display of suspects' photographs, obtained from CCTV footage, will be produced next week, he added.
PA adds A special sitting of Newcastle magistrates will be held today, when those arrested will face charges of violent disorder, affray, criminal damage and burglary.