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Hooligans warned to stay away in police purge

British Transport Police officers will be on patrol throughout Saturday
British Transport Police officers will be on patrol throughout Saturday

FOOTBALL hooligans looking to cause trouble at Charlton Athletic’s league match tomorrow have been told to stay away.

Officers from the British Transport Police will be out in full force policing fans to and from the match against QPR at Loftus Road.

A national purge on football violence will see more than 300 officers sent to mainline stations around the country but have already earmarked Charlton’s game at QPR in Shepherds Bush as a “key match”.

The crackdown has been nicknamed Operation Era.

Supt Andy Ball said: “Most football fans attending matches just want to have a good day out. Unfortunately a small minority, mostly fuelled by drink and bravado, choose to engage in anti-social behaviour. Any hooligan or rogue elements will be dealt with swiftly, whether it be on the forward or return journey.”

He added: “Anyone who seeks to engage in football-related disorder will be prosecuted and BTP will actively seek to take banning orders out against unruly fans.”

The police will also be travelling on the trains, targeting known football hooligans breaking their ban.

Millwall against Leeds United and Blackburn’s game with Manchester United have also been earmarked as the other key matches.

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