YORK and Selby are to get extra police patrols to tackle potential trouble during World Cup matches.

Extra officers will take to the streets during England's games in an effort to combat alcohol-related disorder - but they will also be made available for Poland's game against Germany because of the city's growing Polish population.

Superintendent Martin Deacon, operations commander for North Yorkshire Police's central area, which covers York and Selby, said: "We will be putting additional policing on for the Poland-Germany game because we do have a significant Polish population.

"There will be some extra resources, but not as many as for England games.

"We need to reflect the fact that we do have a diverse community in York and people will not just be watching the England matches.

"We are putting public order patrols on in York and Selby to reassure the public and deal with any disorder and problems that may arise.

"What we tend to see, with events like this, is particular pubs that are showing the matches attract more people, so there is more drinking.

"We expect there to be more people in clubs and bars and coming out on to the streets than we normally would at that time of day."

England's first match will be against Paraguay at 2pm on Wednesday, June 10, followed by fixtures against Trinidad and Tobago at 5pm on Thursday, June 15 and Sweden at 8pm on Tuesday, June 20. Poland will play Germany at 8pm on Wednesday, June 14.

"The actual operation isn't going to be too high profile," Supt Deacon said. "It will focus on very informed, visible policing.

"We are not expecting any great trouble, but we want to make sure we've got resources on duty in case there are any problems, particularly excessive drinking, and if it spreads out on to the streets.

"It's a big event and we are not taking any chances."

The public order patrol will be made up of three sergeants and constables, in addition to the officers who would usually be available at that time. Rest days have been rescheduled to make sure there are enough officers on the streets.

A police spokesman for the Ryedale area said extra officers would be on standby for England matches.

He said: "They will be used should there be any outbreaks of disorder."

Police are also running the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign (AMEC) with trading standards officials, to tackle disorderly drinkers in the run-up to the World Cup. It includes trading standards and licensing officers taking action against shops, pubs and clubs selling alcohol to under-18s, as well as bars caught promoting excessive drinking.

Humberside Police said officers would be manning Humberside Airport and King George Dock because they fear the area may be regarded by hooligans as a convenient place to travel from.

Updated: 12:43 Saturday, May 20, 2006