GMP kick off Euro 2024 with dedicated football policing operation at Manchester Airport

We’re playing our part in a safe and successful European Championships in Germany this summer. 

Our dedicated football officers have begun an operation at Manchester Airport ensuring that those subject to Football Banning Orders (FBOs) comply with the requirement to surrender their passports. 

We’re keen to ensure that those forbidden from travelling abroad to attend football matches don’t risk disrupting the vast majority of football fans going to Germany to have a good time at the tournament. 

Ahead of the Euros, 152 football fans across Greater Manchester subject to FBOs have been required to surrender their passports.  

We ran a passport surrender initiative on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 June in a concerted effort to prevent high-risk supporters from travelling to Germany.  

Those concerned had until 6pm on 5 June to surrender their travel documents at a nominated Greater Manchester police station.  

During the two-day surrender window, an initial 90 per cent compliance rate was achieved with 137 people, handing in their passports.  

Over the past week, work to recover the outstanding passports has seen the compliance rate increase to 98 per cent, with officers from the force’s specialist units visiting the respective home addresses of the individuals who had not compiled. 

For fans who choose to ignore the terms linked to their FBO, they risk being arrested and could face a potential jail term or a fine up to £5,000.

FBO’S are issued by courts and prevent individuals from attending regulated games in the UK in a bid to reduce violence or disorder. Those with banning orders must also surrender their passport before overseas matches.

An order can be issued following a football-related offence or a complaint by local police, British Transport Police, or the Crown Prosecution Service. The duration of a banning order is typically three to five years but extends to six to 10 years if the person was imprisoned for the offence.  

After Manchester City’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul in 2023, two City fan were handed a three-year FBO for damaging a police vehicle during celebrations in the city centre.

Most recently, a Manchester United fan was also handed a three-year FBO for Hillsborough tragedy chanting towards Liverpool fans at United’s FA Cup Quarter-Final fixture at Old Trafford in March 2024.

The enforcement of these banning orders is part of the force’s ongoing collaboration with the German authorities, aimed at ensuring a safe and trouble-free Euro 2024 for all travelling fans. 

The initiative has been conducted by the force’s dedicated football policing unit with PC Matt Ford leading the operation. He said: "We are committed to playing our part in stopping those intent on causing problems from attending the tournament and providing a secure environment for all fans. 

“Our dedicated football officers will be stationed at Manchester Airport throughout the tournament to gather intelligence and identify high-risk supporters as people fly out to watch their country at Euro 2024.  

“Officers will engage with supporters and monitor those travelling whilst continuing a line of communication with colleagues that are stationed in Germany.  

“Any fans found misbehaving could face an FBO upon their return to the UK and may be prosecuted for offences committed whilst in attendance.  

“The initiative highlights our dedication to maintaining public order and ensuring that the European Championships are a positive experience for all legitimate supporters.” 

The operation is just part of the work being undertaken by us to ensure both travelling and non-travelling fans, have a safe and enjoyable tournament.  

Chief Inspector Jamie Collins of GMP’s Specialist Operations Branch, said: “The force has deployed a number of officers to Germany to monitor activity and look out for those who are banned from travelling and anyone suspected of potentially causing trouble. 

“This week, to coincide with the start of the Championships, we have also launched an operation that will tackle potential incidents of anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, hate crime, and public disorder, which have unfortunately been seen during previous tournaments.  

“We have comprehensive patrol plans in place to provide extra visibility and reassurance to members of the public who will be enjoying Euro 2024 on home soil. Officers will be deployed to any large-scale events and will respond to football related-crime and offending.  

“We would like to remind everyone to behave responsibly and look out for one another. Whatever the results are, we understand that emotions will be heightened, but we ask supporters to be mindful of the impact that negative behaviour can have on fellow supporters and our communities. 

“You can report crime by calling 101, or by using the LiveChat function at gmp.police.uk. In an emergency, always dial 999.”