31st May, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Metropolitan Police say more than 2,000 officers will be deployed across London on Saturday as Wembley Stadium hosts the final of this year’s Champions League between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
The Met said a significant policing operation would take place across London on Saturday with officers deployed to police protests as well as the Champions League Final and related fan events.
More than 2,000 officers will be on duty, including more than 400 from police forces outside London, the police said.
The Champions League Final, between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, kicks off at Wembley at 20:00hrs. Aside from the match there will be a number of fan events taking place across London on Friday and through the day on Saturday.
T/Commander Louise Puddefoot, who is leading this weekend’s policing operation, said: “We want fans visiting London for this fantastic event to have a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Puddefoot said there would be a visible police and stewarding presence not just around Wembley but at fan zones and other events.
Puddefoot added that anyone who sees anything suspicious or who has concerns about safety or security should speak to an officer or a member of the stewarding team.
The police said earlier in the day, there would be a number of protests taking place in central London requiring a dedicated police presence.
The Met said a protest organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, more commonly known as Tommy Robinson, would set off from the Victoria area at around 13:00hrs, ending up in Parliament Square where speeches would take place and a film would be shown.
The police disclosed that among those expected to attend the event were groups from across the UK with links to football disorder, saying they were working with forces across the UK, including the British Transport Police, to ensure they have a good understanding of those likely to be travelling to London.
The Met Police added that conditions had been imposed under the Public Order Act requiring all those taking part to form up in an agreed area, to follow a pre-agreed route and to remain in Parliament Square for the subsequent assembly, saying the conditions were in place to prevent serious disruption or serious disorder.
The police said a static counter protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism, would take place in Whitehall from midday, saying the conditions had been imposed on that protest requiring those taking part to remain in the allocated area in Whitehall which is the section opposite Downing Street, adjacent to Richmond Terrace.
The police said officers would be deployed in significant numbers to ensure those in Parliament Square and those in Whitehall did not come together.