POLICE patrols in Oxford and towns around the county are being stepped up for England fixtures during the Euro 2012 football tournament.

Officers from neighbourhood units were drafted in last night to help patrol pubs and clubs showing the side’s opening match against France last night as part of Operation Rattle.

Meanwhile 30 Oxfordshire football hooligans who are subject to football banning orders have had to surrender their passports to police so they cannot travel to games in Ukraine and Poland.

But two have been given exemptions, because they are going on holiday, as has a third person, who is a Wales supporter.

Chief Inspector Jim Templer said: “We’re upping our presence in our town centres mainly while the tournament is going on with a significant presence at the England games and any others where there might be tensions.

“The pubs are not required to tell us if they are having the match on.

“In many ways it will be business as usual and this is an extension of our normal policing process for high-profile matches.

“There will be reactive teams of ordinary police officers in vehicles and doing foot patrols.

“In support of that, we’ve got neighbourhood teams.

“The sort of thing that makes a difference is the history – what has happened in past fixtures and the weather.

“Hot weather tends to mean people drink a bit more.”

He added that the force intended to use the same plan for England’s two other group matches against Sweden on Friday and Ukraine next Tuesday.

Police will also keep a close eye on other fixtures as the tournament goes on and will also monitor games between national teams which have a large number of supporters in Oxfordshire.

Mr Templer added: “There’s quite a large Polish community and so we’ve looked at the history for the Polish community.”

Football banning orders, which last between three and 10 years, are designed to stop potential troublemakers from travelling to football matches both at home and abroad.

They are issued by the courts following a conviction for a football-related offence, or after an application by the Crown Prosecution Service or police.

For an order to be issued, it must be proved that the person has caused or contributed to football-related disorder.

Police vowed to keep tabs on people with banning orders, but refused to name the 33 people currently subject to them.

But Mr Templer added: “They know who they are and we’ve got their passports and we appeal to them to enjoy the tournament like everybody else.”

Football supporter Hugo Glass watched last night’s 1-1 draw at Wahoo, in Hythe Bridge Street.

He said: “I think it’s a good idea to have a few extra police. Everyone everyone likes to have a couple of pints and it can sometimes go downhill.

“I’ve just seen a copper, there are two outside now. They were chatting to the fans and everyone is in good spirits.

“There are a few French people in the bar and everyone’s having a laugh with them.”