More than 700 officers have been drafted in
18:26, 06 Nov 2025
Staffordshire Police officers are among more than 700 from 10 forces to have joined together in a massive operation at Villa Park tonight - as a top cop vows 'We'll be alert to any trouble'.
Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv will play Aston Villa in a Europa League match without away fans allowed inside the ground due to "safety fears". However, at least five protest groups will be positioned near the stadium this evening, Thursday, November 6.
West Midlands Police will be joined by officers from Staffordshire and multiple other forces including West Mercia, Warwickshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. While officers have also been drafted in from forces further afield - the Met, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Dorset.
Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce, the commander for Birmingham local policing area, says "those who want to protest should do so peacefully without crossing the line".
Speaking from WMP's Tally Ho! training centre, in Edgbaston, where scores of officers were briefed ahead of the op, Chf Supt Joyce told BirminghamLive: "There will be a much larger police operation (than usual). We have in the region of over 700 officers from ten police forces.
“You can expect ticket checks on the approach to the ground, not just at the turnstiles and an attempt to try and manage the passage from the city centre to the Villa ground with a strong police presence.
“We’re not expecting trouble. We’re alert to the possibility of trouble. The policing operation, you can see behind, is designed to deal with any trouble if it does present.”
Asked if there was huge pressure on West Midlands Police with the eyes of the world on Birmingham tonight, he said: “We’d be naive if we didn’t think that how we manage tonight's operation won't have an impact on West Midlands Police's representative.
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Police officers from 10 officers ready themselves at Tally Ho!(Image: BirminghamLive)
"Certainly all the officers will be under clear instructions to manage this operation that prioritises public confidence, prioritises public enjoyment of the sporting fixture, but also takes the appropriate response in the event of lawlessness.
"My real hope is not just West Midlands Police but the city of Birmingham and the football clubs participating tonight come out looking good.
"It's a big operation for a football match, there's no denying that, but it's within our capabilities. Every match depends on who the opposition are and the risk assessment. But we would certainly not normally expect to see 700 officers. It's a really significant uplift.
"There are lots of specialist capabilities, dog units, drones will be used to help manage crowd dynamics.
"We have representatives from the mounted section (police horses), our traffic teams, a good showing from across the spectrum of our capabilities."
Asked what would represent a good result for WMP tonight, Chf Supt Joyce added: "A football match delivered safely with minimal trouble and if there are people who want to express their wilful right to protest, that they do so peacefully without crossing the line."
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