RACIST online trolls targeting England's Euro 2024 squad have been warned they will be exposed by social media companies within hours.
And fans who misbehave in Germany risk being taken to the ATM by police to be handed over on-the-spot fines.
Senior police officers came to visit Gareth Southgate's squad at St George's Park ahead of March's double header with Brazil and Belgium to reinforce the message that they would have full support from the authorities.
Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were all subjected to gross racist abuse after the shoot-out defeat to Italy in 2021.
Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the country's top football police officer, said: “We were conscious after the euros in 2021, where there was racist abuse from some of them England's black players, and could prosecute some people.
“We really wanted to speak to the team and make sure they were aware that we wanted to tackle this and would take it very seriously, as well as advise them on how to protect themselves.
“One problem in the past was that there was a six-month statute of limitations on these types of social media posts, and when we asked the companies for data, we didn't get a response until after that limit had expired.
“But we have worked very hard and now we see those answers turning around within a few days.
“So if people think they can hide behind their keyboards and commit hate crimes online, we will pursue them and prosecute them.”
Police and the Foreign Office expect more than 300,000 England fans – the vast majority without tickets – to travel to Germany for what is the first 'accessible' tournament since Euro 2016.
More than 2,000 banning orders, requiring hooligans to surrender their passports for the duration of the tournament, remain in force.
But Chf Con Roberts, who made it clear he does not expect widespread problems – pointing to the dramatic improvement in the behavior of England fans over the past decade – made it clear that German police will crack down on anti-social behavior on the streets, in stadiums and fan zone.
This summer could see a large number of English fans attend their first tournament, although there will also be the “largest ever deployment” of British police alongside the hosts.
Referring to the 2005 hooligan film, Chf Con Roberts added: “In terms of behaviour, we're talking more about 'The Inbetweeners' than 'Green Street'.
“The hope is that our fans will be good guests in Germany, supporting the team and enjoying the country, as they have done in recent tournaments abroad.
“We will have police spotters at every match and with the fans, so if it looks like they are going too far they will try to calm things down.
“Germany has a similar football and social culture: their police are used to people drinking, singing and singing and people are quite tolerant.
“But there are certain things you just shouldn't do, obvious things, even if you've had too much to drink. And if you get a fine from the police, it is on the spot.
If you do not have the money on you, you can be escorted to the nearest ATM. The fines are unlimited.”