The number of Oxford United fans arrested during the last football season almost doubled from the season before, new police figures have revealed.

There were 12 football thugs arrested during the season, from August 2005 to May 2006 compared to seven in the 2004/05 season.

But that figure is still well below the figure of 25 arrested during 2003/04.

Oxford's football intelligence officer, Dc Huw James, said Thames Valley Police were working with the Metropolitan Police to trace Leyton Orient fans who caused trouble at a United match in May.

And he praised Oxford fans for their good behaviour at matches so far this season. He said: "During this season so far we have been very impressed with the behaviour of Oxford United fans home and away, and their support has been particularly good. And we hope that lasts."

He said the only two arrests made so far this season were at an away game in Weymouth on September 2, one for an attack on a doorman. The people arrested had been released on police bail.

Dc James said good joint planning between police and Oxford United had paid off. He said: "Going back to the 80s and 90s, hooliganism was at every match. Now it's only at certain fixtures and between certain groups.

"It means we don't have to spend as much money, and the club don't have to spend as much money."

Banning orders, which stop hooligans attending games, had also worked to cut violence, added Dc James.

Offenders banned from international matches are also outlawed from any league ground in England, usually for between two and five years. This year, 29 Oxford football fans were the subject of orders which stopped them travelling to Germany for the World Cup. They had to surrender their passports.

Dc James added: "During the major football tournaments in 2002, 2004 and 2006 we have seen a decline in the amount of Oxford people being arrested and the amount of people from Oxfordshire trying to breach banning orders, which can lead to a prison sentence.

"They get put off because they get their face plastered all over the Oxford Mail - which is the last thing they want.

"I put it down to proactive policing. We take a zero tolerance approach to football hooliganism in this force.

"We have seen a very successful period of peace at home fixtures - only on rare occasions do we get fans attempting to fight.

"We are proud to say that most fixtures need very few police officers." '