Extra police for 'joyous' promotion celebration

Andy GiddingsWest Midlands
News imageWest Midlands Police Two police officers in bright yellow reflective clothing and black riding helmets, one on a grey coloured horse and the other on a brown horse with the remains of church windows in the backgroundWest Midlands Police
Police horses will be out on the streets as part of the operation to keep the occasion safe

Extra police officers will be drafted into Coventry for the football club's promotion celebrations this Bank Holiday Monday, but West Midlands Police said they expected a "joyous occasion".

Supt Tim Robinson added: "We want to congratulate the players and staff of Coventry City, as well as their fans for what has been a brilliant season."

He said he wanted it to "go ahead safely and securely so everyone can take in the occasion and celebrate in the right way".

A number of roads will be closed for the team's parade through the city, and the force said it would be using police horses to help control the crowds.

Supt Robinson said some of his officers would be in plain clothes "working to disrupt criminal activity" and asked people to report their concerns if something did not seem right.

Drones and police dogs will also be in use, but he said the presence of extra police officers on the streets was "nothing to worry about".

The football club will hold an open-top bus parade through the city and they expect 50,000 fans to gather at the War Memorial Park, near Earlsdon, from 13:00 to 19:00 for a music line-up headlined by local band The Enemy.

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