Top cop hopes for calm as England fans gear up for Germany match amid 'rising disorder' at home

The UK's top cop for football policing is hoping England's trip to Germany will be a peaceful one - after a surge in disorder over the last season. Cheshire Police chief constable Mark Roberts, who grew up in Stretford, is football lead on the National Police Chiefs Council.

This week, he is travelling to Munich, to keep an eye on proceedings when Germany take on England in the UEFA Nations League. As many as 3,466 England supporters hold tickets for the match at the Allianz Arena, with many more expected to travel to Bavaria.

England manager Gareth Southgate has already urged fans to behave - telling reporters that his players are 'embarrassed' when they hear of fan trouble. Chf Con Roberts' attendance will be to work with local police in Munich to 'make sure nothing goes wrong' and prevent difficult situations - as well as gathering intelligence if trouble does flare up.

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A lifelong Manchester City fan, Chf Con Roberts worked closely with rivals United while serving in the Trafford division at Greater Manchester Police. He recalls a previous trip to Munich with United, when German public order officers were preparing to enter a bierkeller where staff were beginning to deem its English customers too rowdy.

"They had been happy to have them in there drinking all day," said Chf Con Roberts. "We told them if they wanted United fans out, they should stop serving them - they would go somewhere else."

He says it is an example of the type of approach that can stop potential incidents flaring up and help to ensure all supporters can enjoy their time abroad safely. Chf Con Roberts believes that generally, German policing of public