Criminal law ;Football disorder ;By Anthony Edwards, TV Edwards, London ;The Football (Disorder) Act 2000 came into force on 28 August 2000. It makes significant amendments to the Public Order Act 1986 and Football Spectators Act 1989 in relation to those convicted of crime for whom banning orders may be required where the court believes that such an order would help prevent violence or disorder at relevant football matches. ;However, the Act also creates a new procedure to allow those without convictions to be brought before the court on complaint so that the court may consider a banning order of a minimum of two years and a maximum of three. Assistance by way of representation (ABWOR) is now available for these hearings on application to the Legal Services Commission, and the work may be undertaken at duty solicitor rates under an amendment to the Duty Solicitor Arrangements. This will apply both to duty solicitors called in and to Narey duty solicitors. ;Under the procedure, police will be able to stop persons at ports of exit to prevent them attending games and detain them for four hours initially and up to six hours with appropriate consents. They may then seize their passports and require the respondents to attend before a court within 24 hours. The court will be able to consider making a banning order if a respondent has at any time caused or contributed to any violence or disorder (whether or not in association with football) in the UK or elsewhere. If the court is then satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the making of a banning order would help prevent violence or disorder, the order will follow. Appeals lie to the Crown Court. If unable or unwilling to hear the case, the court may remand the respondent with conditions to surrender his passport and a requirement not to leave the country. It is unlikely that a banning order could be made on the basis of intelligence or hearsay evidence alone. There will need to be direct evidence of involvement in violence or disorder but video evidence, including from abroad, is permitted. If a banning order is not in the result obtained, it will be important that solicitors make a claim for compensation from central funds for any loss suffered by their clients. ; ; ;