TROUBLE FLARES AS POLICE TARGET PUB 09:30 - 23 November 2004 Trouble broke out at a Derby pub following a police operation to crackdown on football hooligans. A group of 50 Derby County fans were involved in the incident, which left a female police officer needing 14 stitches to her head, after bottles and glasses were thrown at officers. The trouble flared up following the Rams' 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Saturday. Police said they had received intelligence that a large number of known Derby County troublemakers were planning to gather in the town centre, with the intention of causing trouble as part of a long-running dispute with various members of door staff in the city's pubs. Officers tracked the group down to the Island Bar, on the corner of Cathedral Street and Queen Street, at about 7.35pm and 20 police officers were dispatched. They said that when they arrived they found 50 of the troublemakers - known by police as soccer prominents - who started throwing bottles and glasses at officers as they entered. But the manager of the Island Bar said that, until the police arrived, the group had not been causing any trouble. Specialist dog units and other officers in the area were then drafted in. The situation was brought under control and all 50 people in the group were searched. Three of them were arrested - two on suspicion of public order offences and one for suspected drugs. The other 47 involved in the fight were dispersed using the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and monitored through the city's CCTV system to ensure they left the centre. The injured female police officer was taken to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary by patrol car where she was treated for the cut, sustained when she was hit behind the ear by flying glass. Chris Illing, manager of The Island, said: "The fans were not causing any trouble in the pub but suddenly a large amount of police officers entered the building, although we had not contacted them. "There were quite a few other drinkers there, I think we had around 130 in at the time, and a few drinks were spilt." Chief Inspector Brian McKeown said: "This clearly demonstrates that police in Derby will not tolerate these kind of groups. "We would like to send a stark warning to people involved in this sort of behaviour that, if they persist, appropriate action will be taken - which could include their arrest. "We are keen to stress that this had nothing to do with rival football fans or indeed the well-behaved majority of Derby County fans. The people involved are an anti-social minority. A minority we will continue to target."