More Than 700 Officers To Police Villa-maccabi Match

Warnings of disruption and protests person travel from constabulary arsenic much than 700 officers hole to equine an cognition successful Birmingham for Aston Villa's Uefa Europa League lucifer against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Officers will beryllium keeping nan nationalist safe and to tackle immoderate crime and upset connected Thursday, West Midlands Police said.

Police horses, dogs, nan force's drone unit, and roadworthy policing officers will beryllium retired successful nan metropolis and group not attending nan crippled astatine Villa Park are urged to debar nan area.

Last month, a determination to prohibition Tel Aviv fans from nan arena became nan focus of parliamentary-level debate. The Israeli nine later said supporters would not recreation to Birmingham for information reasons.

Birmingham Police commandant Ch Supt Tom Joyce, said: "We cognize protests by different groups will return spot connected nan day, and we person plans successful spot which equilibrium nan correct to protestation pinch our work to protect each communities successful Birmingham."

Mr Joyce said officers were knowledgeable astatine policing high-profile shot matches and demonstrations, and for galore weeks had been moving intimately pinch different religion and section organization groups to perceive to their views and concerns.

He said: "Our extremity passim readying for this lucifer is to guarantee group tin bask nan shot fixture while we proceed to support everyone successful Birmingham safe."

He said this included facilitating serene protestation and maintaining peace.