Mersey officers in Athens for big day

May 11 2007 by Ben Rossington, Liverpool Echo

WHETHER Kopites watch in Athens or Anfield, they are being told to behave during the Champions League final.

Merseyside police officers will be out on the streets in Greece as well as at home.

Thousands of supporters are expected to travel to Athens ticketless, or take part in the events going on in Liverpool.

A group of Merseyside officers, including plain-clothed spotters, will head to Greece to work alongside the local force.

All UK air and sea ports will be on alert and all 63 Liverpool fans currently subject to football banning orders will have to hand over their passports.

After Istanbul, which passed without any major incidents, police said they were looking forward to a fun and friendly final at home and abroad.

Chief Superintendent Dave Lewis is heading the Merseyside contingent and was in Athens last week.

He said: “We always work with the home nation police team on events such as this.

“We are only going in on an advisory role.

“My advice to fans is to do the city proud in Athens.”

Bars and pubs across Merseyside are expecting a bumper pay day. But the game is being viewed with caution by the licensed trade. Joe Curran from city centre Pubwatch said: “We cannot have a repeat of what happened in 2005, specially around the Concert Square area, where we suffered large amounts of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.”

Chief Superintendent Andy Ward, responsible for policing the city centre, but also a Reds fan, said: “Whether or not there is an increase of visitors, we have plans in place for May 23.

“We will build on the experience of 2005 when the city saw tens of thousands of fans join together to celebrate Liverpool’s win.”