Pictures issued of football fans who attacked police

The troublemakers threw missiles, including bottles and cans at police, some of whom were on horseback. The incident, after the match on Saturday April 26, happened as police were trying to disperse fans away from Sunderland's Stadium of Light ground.

Detectives at Sunderland City Area Command have been studying CCTV footage and have already traced 12 men involved in the fracas.

They have been arrested and charged with disorder offences and police have made applications for football banning orders.

Police have yet to identify five others who were in Millennium Way at about 5.20pm and whose images have now been released.

Detective Sergeant Lisa Brackenbury, of Northumbria police, said: "As always it is always the minority who spoil things for thousands of law abiding fans.

"We will take strong action against those responsible for trouble in or outside football grounds."

The derby match, which Newcastle won 1-0, attracted a 45,000 crowd.

Police made 49 arrests on the day, the majority of which were inside or in the immediate vicinity of the ground and were mainly for minor public order offences and drunkeness.

There were also reports of a number of minor skirmishes between rival fans before the game.

Northumbria police have had a number of successes in tracing and bringing successful convictions against football hooligans with the help of CCTV footage.

Last month they published pictures on their website of 26 fans who invaded the pitch during England's 2-0 victory in April against Turkey at the Stadium of the Light.

Police held a joint press conference with the Football Association to publicise the release of the pictures with the majority of the fans since having been identified and arrested.

*Anyone who recognises any of the people in the photographs taken after the Sunderland-Newcastle derby match should call Sunderland City CID on 0191 454 7555 ext 66052, during office hours.