POLICE in Spalding are stepping up patrols to prevent any clashes between football fans during Euro 2012.
Some local officers are giving up rest days to increase presence in the town when high profile matches are taking place.
England’s first match in the UEFA European Championship is against France on Monday, June 11.
Insp Stuart Hurst said: “Passions run high when big matches are on. We are anticipating people will be going to pubs to watch the matches and drinking while they are there.
“We want people to have a good time, but we also want other customers and people in town to feel safe.”
The increase of patrols is to avoid any repeat of the riots that took place in Boston when England played France in Euro 2004.
More than 100 fans went on the rampage after England’s defeat by France. Two police cars were set ablaze and an off-licence was set on fire. Six men who took part in the riots were sent to prison for a total of 11 years.
Insp Hurst said: “We will act robustly with any fan who uses the championship to be disorderly.”