The United Kingdom Metropolitan Police has announced that more than 500 officers will be deployed for the Arsenal Champions Parade in north London on Sunday.
In a statement on Friday, the Met Police said it had worked with Arsenal and other relevant agencies for several months to carry out the task successfully.
It added that the operation is a coordinated effort to ensure the parade is “safe, well organised and enjoyable for everyone attending”.
The statement read, “The Met is preparing for one of its largest policing operations of the year so far ahead of the Arsenal Champions Parade in north London this weekend.
“More than 500 officers will be deployed across the event on Sunday, alongside specialist search and drone teams, to ensure the thousands of people who are expected to attend are kept safe.
“The Met has been working closely with Arsenal Football Club, Islington Council, Transport for London and emergency services partners for several months to plan the event.”
The parade is dedicated to celebrating Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years and, potentially, their first UEFA Champions League silverware if they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Saturday.
Speaking about the parade, Commander Stuart Bell, who will lead the operation, warned that officers will not tolerate violence throughout the event.
“There will be a police presence along the route throughout the event, supporting event organisers and stewarding operations. Officers will respond to incidents where necessary. We expect the vast majority of those attending on Sunday to do so safely and responsibly.
“However, anti-social behaviour, violence or any other type of criminality will not be tolerated. Officers will take action against anyone attempting to cause disruption or harm,” Mr Bell said.
