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'Robust' police plan for Radio 1 Big Weekend

Jenny Coleman
BBC News, Liverpool
BBC Crowds of fans in front of a stage during last year's Radio 1's Big Weekend festival.BBC
The three-day festival will take lace at Sefton Park, with road closures in place as preparations begin

A "robust" policing plan is in place as tens of thousands of people are expected in Liverpool for an event-filled bank holiday weekend, Merseyside Police has said.

Three major events are taking place in the city starting with the three-day BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend musical festival at Sefton Park on Friday.

Thousands of football fans will line the streets as Liverpool parade the Premier League trophy on Bank Holiday Monday, the same day Cunard's cruise ship Queen Anne will arrive in the city to celebrate the company's 185th birthday.

Merseyside Police Ch Insp Iain Wyke said it will be "an extremely busy weekend", the force had experience in delivering large-scale events.

Ch Insp Iain Wyke is wearing a white police uniform shirt with a black tie and a police hat. He is stood at the side of a road at Sefton Park opposite fencing and the back of a large stage. A number of red and white cones and fencing green and metal fencing is in the background.
Merseyside Police Ch Insp Iain Wyke said "bumper crowds" were expected in the city

"What we are very good at is working with our partners in Liverpool City Council and the wider region in dealing with these large events," Ch Insp Wyke said.

He said: "Merseyside Police takes pride in supporting event organisers in delivering safe events.

"Rest assured we have a really robust plan in place with high visibility assets and specially trained officers."

Reuters Red confetti in the air in front of the Liverpool bus in 2019. Players raise their arms in celebration on the open-top bus.Reuters
Liverpool FC's trophy parade will follow a similar route to 2019 celebrations

He said with 40,000 people expected each day at the BBC Radio 1 event, a range of uniformed and plain clothed officers will be deployed to look for "tell tale signs of someone trying to commit criminality".

He urged people not to go to the event without a ticket, look after personal belongings and to be vigilant.

"If you see something that doesn't look right or looks suspicious tell a police officer or a member of the event security and we will deal with it," he said.

PA Media Cunard's Queen Anne is a large ship with a crowd of people cheering and confetti in the airPA Media
Cunard's Queen Anne was named in a ceremony in Liverpool last year

Liverpool's director of culture Claire McColgan said hosting three major events over the bank holiday was important for the city's national and international reputation.

"It's the three things we do really well as a city," she said.

"It's music, it's maritime and it's sport and its the best in the world of those three things.

"It's a mad weekend, but it's a great weekend."

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