A SENIOR police officer from the North-East will play a crucial role in policing the England soccer team's build up to the World Cup qualifying games.
Area commander for Newcastle Central, Superintendent Graham Stafford, was in Paris this week heading a team of officers who are advising on tactics for tonight's friendly against France.
Hundreds of French police will be on duty for the game - and they will be getting advice from Supt Stafford on how to handle any problems involving thousands of England fans travelling to the game.
Supt Stafford, who acts as match commander for Newcastle United's home games as part of his job in the city centre, has a crucial role as liaison officer for England's police forces when the national sides travels abroad.
He is being backed by a team of spotters from various police forces who have the job of picking out any known football hooligans who could turn up in Paris intent on causing trouble.
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