BURNLEY FC's "tough tackle" policy on hooliganism is paying off - with the club bucking the trend on arrests both at home and away.

A new national survey today reveals soccer arrests rising again - but not among Clarets' fans whose soccer-related offences both at Turf Moor and at away fixtures last season fell by a massive 30 per cent.

Fans and visitors to Burnley's ground also scored well in the good behaviour league, with just 21 arrests, 12.5 per cent down on the previous season.

The figures, released on the eve of the clarets' first home fixture of the season, the clash with Chesterfield, has been welcomed by Clarets director Clive Holt who said fans deserved a pat on the back.

But he promised no let up in the club's Zero Tolerance Policy which has seen 116 Turf Moor life bans handed out to people convicted of soccer related offences.

Mr Holt, responsible for ground and safety matters at the Turf said: "We are encouraged by last season's figures and we want that to continue. The vast majority of Burnley fans are tremendous. Unfortunately there is a very small minority bent on causing trouble." "We don't want them at the club and we won't have them at the club.

"Anybody misbehaving and subsequently prosecuted will be banned and remain banned. That's the policy and will continue to be so and we feel that has helped produce these figures."

And Mr Holt urged fans to continue to act responsibly to help the club channel its funds towards positive goals.

The survey shows that at Turf Moor last season arrests were cut from 24 to 21 - 17 home and four away fans. The 21 arrests were at 23 home league appearances which attracted nearly a quarter of a million fans.

The club says the continued improvement is squarely down to the life ban policy and much hard work by club officials to ensure Turf Moor is a safe place to visit.

Most of the problems, they add, were at the home match with Manchester City when there were a total of 15 arrests, 12 of them involving Burnley fans.

Alex Wood, the club's safety officer said: "The behaviour of the majority of Burnley supporters at both home and away fixtures was excellent last season."

"There was a reduction of over 30 per cent in persons arrested for football related offences both inside and outside the ground and away fixtures," he added.

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