FOOTBALL hooligans in the North-East were warned yesterday that they were facing a zero tolerance crackdown on their activities, after the Home Office revealed an increase in arrests.

Figures from the last Premiership season showed that Sunderland were near the top of the table for football-related arrests, with 185 supporters held for offences including violent disorder and racist chanting.

The relegated club were second only to Manchester United in the number of arrests made.

The majority of arrests came at the Stadium of Light, mainly for public disorder and alcohol offences, and the ground also saw 121 people held during violent scenes at the England versus Turkey match, in June.

Newcastle United were third in the listings with a total of 139 arrests, and Middlesbrough 12th with 67.

Sunderland have imposed bans on 21 supporters, Newcastle 16, and Middlesbrough 14.

The figures show an overall 19 per cent rise in arrests at domestic games in England and Wales, as well as European and international matches.

All three clubs last night hailed the figures as positive news in their efforts to target prolific offenders.

Sunderland's zero tolerance policy means that supporters are always arrested, rather than just being ejected from the stadium.

Safety officer John Davidson said: "We simply cannot tolerate any form of anti- social behaviour as this reduces enjoyment for other supporters. We will continue to make a firm stand this season."

Dave Pattison, Newcastle United's head of security, said: "We have got a real grip on it here.

"We have got Manchester United at St James' Park on Saturday and that is one of our big-risk games.

"But it's a long time since we have had violence inside the stadium and long may that continue."

Middlesbrough's safety officer, Ron Turnbull, said: "When you consider that almost 600,000 people came through the Riverside turnstiles over the course of last season, these figures are really very impressive. It equates to an average of just one arrest per game."

In Division Three, 25 Hartlepool United fans were arrested and Darlington, 14.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears has announced £5m funding during the next three years to pay for intelligence-led policing operations, aimed at gathering evidence against known and emerging trouble-makers.