DOZENS of football hooligans from North Yorkshire are set to be barred from travelling to South Africa to support England in the World Cup.

The Home Office says 31 people from the county are currently subject to football banning orders, which prevent them travelling abroad to watch matches.

It says North Yorkshire Police will carry out risk assessments on fans whose banning orders will lapse before the start of this summer’s tournament.

“Further banning orders will be sought if there is any evidence that the individual continues to pose a risk,” said a spokesman for the Public Order Unit.

“If the risk once posed by the individual is felt to have ceased, the individual will be free to travel, but will be closely monitored.”

He said in most cases, people whose banning orders had expired were considered by police to pose no further threat, because they might have lost contact or status within their “peer risk group”, moved on or matured.

“Intelligence-led police ports operations will monitor travelling fans and intercept those assessed to pose a risk.”

He said there were currently more than 3,100 banning orders in force across the country, which are imposed after fans are convicted of a range of offences, including violence, public disorder and invading the pitch.

The Home Office was providing £1 million of funding to police forces in England and Wales for targeted police operations seeking football banning orders against known and emerging troublemakers.

Last May, the Football Association said police were applying for banning orders against three York City supporters who were arrested on suspicion of possessing fireworks when York played at Wembley against Stevenage Borough in the FA Trophy final.

But York City spokeswoman Sophie Hicks said today no further action was taken, and there were no banning orders on City supporters as a result of their behaviour at Wembley. She was not aware of any other City fans currently subject to banning orders.