By Neil Bennett BBC crime correspondent

He is a Newcastle United fan and he thinks there is a fair chance the Euro 2004 football championship will go peacefully.

Mr Swift is the Deputy Chief Constable of Staffordshire police and the officer in charge of the English end of operations to keep the peace in Euro 2004.

The history of these big international tournaments is not promising.

The authorities all agree on their strategy to deal with violence

With the exception of the last World Cup in Japan and South Korea, England fans have a long record of disgracing themselves and damaging the reputation of England abroad.

It is Mr Swift's unenviable task to see England fans behave themselves during the long hot days of June and July in Portugal.

On Wednesday he outlined the moves which have been going on for months now.

Welcome

There are already banning orders on 2000 individuals which prevent them from travelling to matches abroad.

The police hope to increase this number by another 600 by the time England play their first match in Lisbon in June.

Dedicated policing operations are under way in two thirds of the forces in England and Wales gathering evidence against suspects, and there are regular meetings between English and Portuguese officers.

There is a responsibility on the fans to respond to respect David Swift, Deputy Chief Constable of Staffordshire 'Hooligans' banned

Around 50,000 UK citizens are expected in Portugal this summer because of the football and the second part of the strategy to stage a peaceful European Championship is to make the fans feel welcome.

The Portuguese understand there is a long-established tradition of drinking and noisy behaviour among English supporters and they have promised to distinguish between this and outright hooliganism.

Mr Swift is confident their strategy is the right one.

"Any strategy has to be prepared for an escalation, and they are well prepared should any trouble break out. They can differentiate between the wrongdoers and those who are just there," he said.

Respect

Riot police will be on duty but held in reserve and will only be deployed as a last resort.

Police here have not sent out their usual message that fans without tickets should not bother going to Portugal at all.

It is such a popular holiday destination for the British every year that such a message is deemed futile.

"There is a responsibility on the fans themselves to respond to the respect with due respect themselves, and also respond positively to directions from the authorities.

"And that means they're in a better position to police themselves and marginalise any individuals hell-bent on causing trouble," Mr Swift said.

No plans exist for alcohol bans in Portugal this summer.

It was perhaps not the best choice of words when a journalist at the press conference asked if this month's friendly between England and Portugal on the Algarve would be a dry run for the summer.