There are some parallels between Faliraki and Blackpool

Blackpool police have confirmed that the aptly-named Superintendent Andy Rhodes will fly out to the island next Friday to spend a few days with Greek officers.

The move emerged on Thursday at a meeting in a town close to Faliraki, on Rhodes, between Greek officials and hotel and bar owners.

Senior Greek police officers complained of continuous drunk and disorderly behaviour among some young British holidaymakers.

The British Consul, Donald Holder, who was invited as an observer, told the meeting Blackpool police had offered to send an officer to give advice to local police on how similar problems are dealt with in the UK.

Binge drinking

Supt Rhodes said: "I must stress that Blackpool should not be directly compared to Faliraki, although there are obviously some common issues such as people drinking excessively and engaging in criminal behaviour.

Faliraki parties on

"Having gained valuable knowledge of the police issues we face in Blackpool as a British holiday resort, I'm certain we will have some ideas to offer."

Supt Rhodes has been the driving force behind an initiative in the Lancashire town called Nightsafe, which aims to tackle binge drinking and its related problems.

This includes stopping drinks promotions which give people the opportunity to consume vast amounts of alcohol relatively cheaply over a short period of time.

Supt Rhodes, who will be accompanied by Inspector John Donnelly, said other ideas will include the use of CCTV footage, the importance of intelligence-led policing and door staff registration.

Stripping

The health issues surrounding binge drinking and discouraging licensees from selling large rounds of drinks are two other possible ways of stopping people getting too drunk, he added.

The development came as a British man convicted of indecent behaviour in Faliraki avoided prison by paying a �1,750 fine.

Steven Ireland, who had reportedly dropped his trousers in public, was freed from custody on Thursday, said the Foreign Office

Ireland, who was arrested on Tuesday, had the choice of paying the fine or being jailed for seven months.

He was the third Briton in the past week to be convicted of indecent behaviour in Faliraki.

Two other Britons who faced jail sentences for stripping in public were freed on Wednesday after also opting to pay their fines.

At a court appearance on Tuesday, Jemma-Anne Gunning was ordered to pay a fine of 2,500 euros (�1,750) or spend the next eight months in jail after allegedly baring her breasts in a "Beautiful Bottom" competition.

Jemma-Anne Gunning was jailed for flashing her breasts

The 18-year-old from Frome in Somerset was released after her mother, Sarah Brake, flew to the island from Heathrow Airport on Tuesday night and paid the fine.

Ms Gunning is expected back in England on Friday.

Her arrest followed that of 20-year-old Matthew Maloney from South Wales, for dropping his trousers in the resort after a night out drinking.

He was saved a year in a Greek jail after his family stumped up �2,000 to pay his fine and secure his release.

The Mayor of Faliraki is reported to have ordered a clampdown on organised bar crawls following the death of Irish teenager Paddy Doran, who died after being stabbed with a broken bottle last week.

It is still not clear what changes, if any, the authorities in Faliraki are considering making to the law as regards such activities.

A spokesman for Club 18-30 said the company had asked for an urgent meeting on Monday between all members of the Federation of Tour Operators and local authorities.

"The meeting is hopefully being set up to take place next week. In the meantime, to date, we have still not received any official confirmation of a change in policy by the local authorities," she said.

Investigation

Five holiday reps from England were also arrested for encouraging illegal pub crawls but later released.

Derek Celis, 24, and 20-year-old Emily Dean, who are both from London, Claire Hullock, 20, from Leeds, Sarah-Louise Sharkey, 33, from Penrith in Cumbria, and 31-year-old Thomas Battista, from Birmingham, were all acquitted in court on Monday.

Their employers have said they will keep their jobs.

Earlier this month, 29-year-old Matthew Benney died after being hit by a bin truck in the resort.

Greek authorities are investigating claims that Mr Benney may have run under the truck for a bet.