There will be 1,200 police officers at the FA Cup final

Some 1,200 police officers will be deployed to make sure everything goes smoothly during the FA Cup final.

Wembley is set to welcome a 90,000 sell-out crowd, when rivals Manchester United and Manchester City play on Saturday.

Officers are gearing up for an intense operation, keeping the peace between the fans and preparing for any protests which might take place.

The Met and the British Transport Police are joining forces while Greater Manchester Police are sending some of their own, who ‘know their fans’ to keep tensions between supporters at bay.

Back in 2011, when the two Manchester teams played against each other at Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final, dramatic fights broke out between fans near the stadium and 34 arrests were made.

But, besides dealing with this long-standing rivalry, the Met’s deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said today that there is ‘no intelligence’ to suggest the fact the match is a derby will lead to a spike in violence.

This year, organisers have also had to filter in whether protesters are planning to disrupt the sporting event.

Mr Adelekan said: ‘Anyone that comes to disrupt the FA Cup Final will be met with the same sort of response that we have had, which will be rather speedy and robust to make sure that actually we minimise any disruption to the FA Cup Final and prevent it if we possibly can, as well.

‘We’ve got 1,200 officers situated in and around Wembley, we’ve got officers situated inside, those are the plans that we have.

‘Protest is legal but protest that strays into criminal behaviour is illegal and will be met with the response that you have seen. People are likely to be removed and possibly get arrested.’

Recent weeks have seen multiple Just Stop Oil demonstrations, with the England cricket team’s bus delayed on its way to Lord’s by demonstrators today.

And last weekend, two activists hurled orange powder all over the pitch at the English Premiership Rugby final at Twickenham.

Stewards removed the pair, Samuel Johnson, from Reydon, Suffolk, and Patrick Hart, from Brislington, Bristol, to a mix of boos and cheers from fans, and the game resumed. They have both been charged.

Mr Adelekan, whose officers start their job tomorrow already, said they ‘have a policing plan that is comprehensive’.

With train strikes set for Saturday, most fans are expected to drive to London or use one of the 160 official coaches which have been organised.

Manchester United and Manchester City also have drawn up detailed plans to make sure their supporters leave from different points and use designated service stations.

Bus and coach drivers will also be told to make scheduled stops to ensure fans do not mix, MailOnline reports.

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