The 2010 Football World Cup is nearly upon us and already the media is saturated with football stories, writes West Mercia Police Temporary Chief Inspector Richard Langton.

Cars and homes will be bedecked with flags and banners, shops and businesses will fill their windows and everyone will have some sort of World Cup promotion.

West Mercia Police is also gearing up towards the tournament, although for slightly different reasons. So why does a sports tournament taking place over five thousand miles away impact on policing in Telford?

We have seen over many years that major football tournaments such as the World Cup and Euro events will bring an increase in alcohol-related crime and disorder.

History has shown that the further the England team has progressed in the tournament the greater the disappointment and subsequent disorder when the team is knocked out.

Of course, it is possible that 2010 is the year that the England team finally return the glory summer of 1966 and bring home the World Cup from Johannesburg, but we have to prepare for all eventualities which sadly has to include our contingency for managing the wave of frustration, disappointment and anger which will inevitably accompany the end of England’s run.

Another sad and disturbing consequence of alcohol-related crime directly linked to major football tournaments is domestic violence.

In previous competitions a significant increase in domestic violence incidents has been noted on key match days, peaking with the occasion of the national team being knocked out of the tournament.

This year, West Mercia Police and its partner agencies have come up with an awareness campaign aimed at reducing the number of domestic related incidents and assaults through a series of posters which will be displayed in public places as well as pubs and clubs.

To support this campaign on England match days Telford Police will be deploying units specifically tasked with dealing with domestic incidents; these officers will be equipped with body worn video and will seek to take positive action against any aggressors.

This may well mean a night in the cells.

Specialist Domestic Violence Investigators from Telford CID’s Public Protection Unit will be on hand to deal with any prisoners arrested for such offences.

Watch out for West Mercia’s “Lock’Em Inn” leaflet. This is our own guide to some of Shropshire’s most exclusive overnight accommodation venues.

With a friendly guide to what to expect from West Mercia’s Custody Blocks the leaflet outlines some of the realities of getting arrested, and as well as describing what an overnight stay in the cells is like, it goes on to explain what receiving a criminal conviction will mean to you, your employment and your family.

It’s a light-hearted document designed to amuse, but it does carry a very serious message.

England’s World Cup campaign begins on Saturday with a qualifying match against the USA kicking off at 7:30pm.

We will have additional patrols on the streets for this and every England match day supported by resources from West Mercia’s Operations Department, including Dog units and support vehicles from the Force’s Operational Support Team.

Local Policing Teams will also be on hand to support their communities as well as detectives dedicated to investigating football-related crime as it happens.

We will seek opportunities to apply for Football Banning Orders (FBOs) for any persons prosecuted for a crime linked to a football event.

These orders have far reaching powers and can last for several years.

West Mercia Police's World Cup campaign

In Telford alone we currently have 21 individuals subject to controls under FBOs.

None of these individuals will have had the luxury of being allowed to travel to South Africa to watch the tournament as their orders have required the surrender of their passports.

They will also be required to report to a police station on each England Match day to demonstrate that they are complying with the restrictions of their order.

If you enjoy and value watching football do not jeopardise this by getting yourself arrested.

This summer, inevitably, many people will end up on the wrong side of the law, some perhaps for the first time.

The combination of hot weather, alcohol and the excitement and tension of the World Cup will be too much for some people.

Drunkenness, violence and anti-social behaviour will be an unwanted consequence of the tournament and West Mercia Police will not shy away from dealing with individuals whose behaviour causes offence, upset and injury within our communities. Don’t let this be you.

Please enjoy yourselves responsibly during the World Cup, drink in moderation and be considerate to your neighbours and communities.

We’ll be out there to keep you safe and to deal with those who break the law.

Don’t be the fool who ends up locked up and potentially facing the courts.

Who knows, maybe this year England can go on to win the tournament or maybe we may yet again face the trauma of the knockout by penalty shootout.

Whatever the outcome, the memories will all fade in time. A criminal conviction won’t.