POSTERS of convicted football thugs could be displayed around the stands at Turf Moor as part of a bid to stamp out hooliganism in Burnley.

The posters could form part of a new partnership between police and Burnley Football Club to ensure information and intelligence on trouble-makers is shared between them.

The agreement, formally signed yesterday by representatives from the police and the club, means police can for the first time hand over pictures of convicted hooligans to be displayed in the ground.

Organisers of the scheme hope the move will discourage people banned from the ground from trying to get in to matches and send out a positive message that hooliganism will not be tolerated.

The move follows the success of Operation Fixture, Burnley police's crackdown on football trouble-makers.

Insp Dave Shepherd said: "The idea behind the scheme is that the club and police can share information so that everyone knows who is banned from the ground. This will help us drive out hooliganism from football."

Alex Wood, safety officer at Turf Moor, added: "We are trying to present an improved image of football and to tackle those engaged in football related violence.

"One option could be to have pictures displayed in the ground of those banned so genuine fans and security staff can pick out those who are not supposed to be there."

Police say their clampdown on hooligans is now so successful it is being looked at by other forces across the country.

Senior officers from Nottinghamshire Police have visited Burnley and are considering introducing their own version of the Operation Fixture. Chief Insp Richard Morgan has already given a presentation to the National Criminal Intelligence Service on Operation Fixture and will give a talk later this month to the National Match Commanders conference in Berkshire.

Figures released earlier this year showed Burnley recorded the second highest number of arrests in the first division, behind Nottingham Forest, and officers said the rise was due to the success of Operation Fixture.

The total number of those arrested at league and cup games rose from 45 in the 2001-2002 season to 130 last season. The figures for last season include arrests for breaching of banning orders.

Burnley also came 9th out of all the clubs in the country, a table topped by Manchester United with 186 arrests.

Currently 48 people are banned from Turf Moor by magistrates and a total of around 200 banned altogether.