In brief: Police fight World Cup hooligans with digital help

NEWS UK police are using digital imagery to help their French counterparts combat football hooliganism at the World Cup. The National Criminal Intelligence Service, based in London, is using digital cameras to track fans arriving at French ports and airports. Alongside the images of incoming fans, mug shots of known hooligans are transmitted by mobile phone to the French police to aid identification. A spokesman for the football unit said the system will "come into its own if officers suspect a group may cause trouble later. Authorities on the ground can be forewarned". Hewlett Packard, official IT supplier to the World Cup, will provide notebook PCs for the French Police.