World Cup revellers are to be offered sticks of rock in the hope it will defuse any trouble.

Pubs and clubs across Shepway which are showing matches have been given the red, white and blue sweets.

The word England runs through the middle and each stick has a message like Punch the Air Not Your Mate and Enjoy the Night, Don’t Fight, on the outside.

Shaun Taylor, Shepway council’s anti-social behaviour manager, said 5,000 sticks had been bought and distributed across the district.

“This was done at the last World Cup four years ago and licensees wanted it back,” he said.

“It is aimed at reducing violence and getting people away from flashpoints.
“We hope drinkers will have a laugh with their mates over the messages as they leave the pubs and clubs so it will take away any emotion.

“It is a light-hearted approach and there was a good feedback last time.”
Money for the rock came from the Home Office.

Meanwhile, police say they expect emotions to run high during the World Cup but warn that anti-social behaviour and drunkeness will not be tolerated.

They will not be targetting pubs and clubs across the South Kent area and say it will be business as usual.

Sgt Dave Gilbert, from the area’s task and co-ordination unit, said: “We want people to enjoy their time at the pub without the police watching what they are doing. We know there is a drinking culture around football but we do not want to micro-manage it.

“But we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour and drunkenness in the streets.”
He added: “Football is an emotional game and attracts a certain degree of hostility because of the emotions.

“In South Kent we have a lot of multi-cultured people, especially in Shepway, who will be supporting their own nations rather than England.

“We want everyone to enjoy the World Cup, no matter what nation they are supporting, in a safe environment.”