German police are set to introduce a robust five-point plan to ensure they are equipped to deal with any security threat during the European Championships next month, according to reports.
The much-anticipated tournament gets underway in Munich on June 14 with a clash between the hosts and Scotland at the Allianz Arena.
The fixture will see the first portion of the expected 2.7million fans expected in stadiums and up to 12m in fanzones and other areas across the ten host cities.
German police are stepping up their preparations and will particularly target five ‘perpetrator groups’ – terrorists, violent hooligans, travelling criminals, including thieves and serious criminals – according to Bild.
The outlet claim that a total of 22,000 federal police will be deployed at borders, stadiums, public viewing areas, airports, railway stations and sensitive areas of the critical infrastructure every day.
These will reportedly be made up of 25 police units, 50 mobile surveillance units, 45 alarm trains with officials from administrations and offices and 45 trains with young police officers in their second year of training.
Additionally, there is a ban on police holiday during the month-long tournament.
Bild report that law enforcement are especially concerned about the risk of hooligans during the European Championships.
In March, Mail Sport reported that thousands of football fans have been banned from following England in Germany under a UK government clampdown.
Over 1,600 fans with football banning orders will be forced to surrender their passports to the police from 4 June until the European Championship final on 14 July to ensure they do not attempt to attend matches.
Anyone failing to hand in their passport or attempting to travel to Germany will face a large fine or prison term, with a maximum sentence of six months.
The new powers to enforce fans to surrender passport were introduced following a surge in football-related violence in recent years, with police making 2,264 arrests at matches last season and issuing 682 new banning orders, the highest figures since 2011.
Meanwhile, Bild report that German hooligans are preparing for riots, with them seeing the event as a ‘home game’ where ‘presence’ must be shown.
One source is quoted as saying: ‘The hooligan and ultra scene in particular has an increased potential for aggression and an affinity for violence. Particularly away from official venues, disruptive actions must be expected – if the opportunity arises.’
As a result, fan groups that are particularly hostile will reportedly be assessed internally as a ‘red game’ during the European Championships, with security measures being increased to handle the threat.
Measures such as threat speeches, reporting requirements, bans on entering areas, expulsions and detention will be utilised. Furthermore, identified violent troublemakers will not be allowed to buy tickets.
