FOOTBALL hooligan crackdown Operation Fixture is set to continue after police secured £50,000 from the Home Office.

Pennine police have now been given more than £225,000 from the Home Office since last year for the scheme which aims to tackle football related disorder.

Chief Insp Chris Bithell, who leads the operation, said: "I am very pleased that the hard work put into the operation by Pennine Division officers has been recognised with a further slice of Home Office cash.

"Operation Fixture has proved highly successful since its launch, helping to prevent disorder at local football matches as well as during major tournaments like Euro 2004. "This latest cash boost will enable our officers to continue this good work and to continue preparations for the World Cup in Germany in 2006." Officers working on Operation Fixture, launched last year, have successfully obtained 56 Football Banning Orders through both the criminal and civil courts. Police said the enforcement of these orders locally has helped to dramatically reduce football related arrests in Burnley during the 2003/04-football season. The new cash will allow officers to continue targeting local football related offenders using a variety of tactics. For example, each match in Burnley is the subject of a post match enquiry where officers view CCTV evidence to identify offenders and bring them before the courts.

Specially trained officers travel to Burnley away games to help other forces identify potential troublemakers. The force also uses barristers who specialise in obtaining Football Banning Orders to prosecute the offenders in civil court.

Chief Insp Bithell said: "If you are in any way involved in football related disorder it's highly likely that Operation Fixture officers will identify you and rigorously prosecute you through the courts if you commit any offences."