EXTRA police have been drafted in to help prevent any drunken disorder when an East Yorkshire sporting tournament takes place on Good Friday.

Sergeant Pete Rogers, of Humberside Police, said his team would operate a zero-tolerance approach to troublemakers when the annual Pocklington Rugby Sevens event takes place in the town.

He said the rugby sevens event itself was well managed and police would operate a low-key approach at the rugby ground in Percy Road.

Problems have tended to occur later in the day and in the town centre.

As a result, Sgt Rogers has enlisted ten special constables and eight extra officers, as well as the normal officers and response teams, to be on duty.

Sgt Rogers said the high-profile approach had worked in recent years and resulted in positive feedback from members of the public.

“We want people to enjoy the day and what is a big event for the town and the vast majority do behave themselves,” said Sgt Rogers. “Unfortunately, there are the small minority who cause problems and we want to provide a high-visibility, zero tolerance approach to make sure that people can enjoy themselves in a peaceful environment.

“The day itself is normally a peaceful event but in these types of events, and being a bank holiday, there will be a large flow of people coming into the town centre in the evening where pubs and bars will be open and there is that potential for drunken disorder.”

Sgt Rogers said police would work closely with licensees to deter trouble.

He said: “We do want people to have fun – but we will not tolerate anyone caught acting up.”