Police handed £1.4m for Champions final security
A£1.4m grant has been given towards paying for a massive security operation for the Champions League final being held in Cardiff.
The UK Government approved a Special Grant application made by the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner to cover the additional costs of policing the game.
The grant had been applied for before the attack in Westminster a fortnight ago.
The final will be held at the Principality Stadium – which will be renamed The National Stadium of Wales for the event.
The city is set to see 250,000 fans in the city in the week of the final and police have said it will be their biggest operation ever.
The amount of security in the city will be “unprecedented”. The number of officers is not expected to exceed the huge operation for Nato but the amount of security measures are likely to be bigger in the wake of terror attacks around the world.
Staff working near the stadium have been warned they will need to carry identification and could be searched at any point in the build-up.
There will also be a focus on hostile vehicle mitigation around the city.
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “Cardiff has consistently proven its calibre in delivering highprofile events on an international stage. The eyes of the world will once again be upon us as we prepare to host the Champions League finals.
“The safety and security of the hundreds of thousands of people set to flood into the city and surrounding areas at this time is of paramount importance. The UK Government is determined to ensure that Wales, and the UK, are seen in the best possible light on the worldwide stage and the policing of the event will be crucial in achieving this.
“I am delighted that we have been able to provide this funding for South Wales Police. I know the whole city is looking forward to giving visiting supporters a wonderful welcome at what will be a safe and successful Champions League final later this year.”
Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, Brandon Lewis said: “I am pleased to confirm that £1.4m in special grant funding has been allocated to support South Wales Police at the Champions League final in Cardiff.
“I am sure it will be a fantastic event for the city of Cardiff to host.
“The UK Government has protected police funding since the 2015 Spending Review and it is right that in exceptional circumstances we provide additional resources in order to make sure we keep our communities safe and secure.”