England manager Roy Hodgson
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
10:54 AM
Yobs with Football Banning Orders prevented from attending England matches in Poland and the Ukraine
Nearly 30 football hooligans from Kent have today been told to hand over their passports to stop them travelling to the Euro 2012 football tournament.
The Football Banning Orders Authority has given the 28 yobs who are subject to a Football Banning Order (FBO) two days to surrender their passports ahead of the tournament, hosted jointly by Poland and the Ukraine, that runs from June 8 to July 1.
If they don’t hand over their passports they will be arrested by Kent Police and face prosection.
Officials say the move is part of a nationwide operation, co-ordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers, to reduce the “impact” the tournament may have both in the UK and overseas.
Among those who will not be in the stadium for E ngland’s opening game against France is a 35-year-old unemployed man from Chatham who became the first person in Kent to receive an FBO since a new specialist unit was established by Kent Police to tackle football-related crime.
He was banned in February from attending any football match in the county, the rest of the country and overseas for the next three years.
The ban extends to all matches from the Blue Square South League, the top level of non-league competition, upwards.
He also received an 18-month Community Order and an 18-months- Supervision Order after being found guilty at Medway Magistrates’ Court of assaulting two stewards at a Gillingham game.
The unit, made up of specially trained officers, was formed last July after a change in the law that meant ‘regulated games’ included non-league football matches.
Police say football banning orders are a preventative measure designed to stop potential troublemakers from travelling to and attending football matches, both at home and abroad.
Anyone who commits a football-related offence at one of these stadiums can be arrested and an FBO applied for.
Chief Insp Bryan Whittaker said: “We have developed a strong record of effective policing of football matches and that includes using Football Banning Orders where necessary.
“They are a significant tool for police and the courts in preventing or reducing football related violence and disorder.
“Banning orders work. About 92 per cent of people whose orders have expired since 2000 are assessed by police as no longer posing a risk of football disorder. And the rate of passport surrender is even higher. During the World Cup 2010, 98 per cent of people with FBOs complied.
“Most football fans are good natured and genuinely want to support their team. They should be able to do that without being subjected to offensive and criminal behaviour.”
Source: www.kentnews.co.uk
Katie Price in Kent special needs free school bid - BBC News
Katie Price is among a group of parents who want to set up a free school in Kent for children with visual impairment and other disabilities.
Her 10-year-old son Harvey will be among the pupils if the school is given the go-ahead by the government.
"There are other schools for Harvey but they are not the standard we think [the children] need," she said.
The Royal London Society for the Blind (RLSB) said it wished the free school the best of luck.
The charity runs a school in Kent which Harvey currently attends, but it is due to close.
Ms Price, who lives in West Sussex, has been working with her mother Amy and other parents at Harvey's present school on the bid.
Behaviour problemsAmy Price was among parents who attended a meeting at the Department for Education (DfE) to put their case for government funding. They expect to receive a decision in July.
The parents were advised by human rights lawyers and writer Toby Young, who set up the first free school in Hammersmith, west London, last year.
Ms Price said she believed Harvey needed to be at a special school which could cater for his disabilities.
"I strongly believe that without the support Harvey has had at his school and our help he wouldn't be as forward as he is now," she said.
"You definitely need to stimulate the children in the right way. It is to do with the support - they have speech therapy and they have their music."
She said the proposed school, which would be for children who already have a statement of special educational needs, could have as many as 90 pupils. So far the parents of 45 children have expressed interest.
"Harvey has got so many needs and behaviour problems," said Amy Price. "These are children that no other school can really cater for and offer the education or the therapies they need."
Katie Price said she would not be running the school and did not want to be seen as a figurehead.
"I am a parent," she said. "I haven't used my status at all and I wouldn't because it's not about me, it is about the kids."
But she and her mother said that if the school was approved others could be set up elsewhere in England.
"If this one is successful and we achieve what we want to, we plan to do it around the country, but we have got to start with this one first," said Amy Price.
Families and friendsTom Pey, chief executive of RLSB, said the charity had looked closely at the free school idea.
"We formed the view, based on a lot of experience and a lot of thought, that going out into the communities and educating young children where they can be with their friends, their families and with their communities is far better," he said.
"That is not to say that we have anything against the free school and we are aware that a free school is being thought about.
"We wish that the very best of luck as well because blind young people need all the help they can get."
Kent County Council said it supported the proposal, providing the new school could deliver the good and outstanding education that this group of children and young people needed and deserved.
A DfE spokeswoman said: "Our free schools programme allows parents, teachers and charities the chance to set up schools to meet the needs of local children.
"A number of free schools for children with special educational needs are already in the pipeline and we welcome applications from other passionate people who want to set up new schools.
"As taxpayers would expect, all applications are carefully assessed and must meet strict criteria."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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