Music unites us - let's make this the best Eurovision ever

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PCC Emily Spurrell in front of a 'Eurovision Song Content Liverpool 2023' banner

"Let's make this the best Eurovision ever" - Merseyside PCC welcomes tens of thousands of Eurovision fans as they arrive in Liverpool for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Since the announcement last October that the city will be hosting the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, the excitement has been building and this year’s contest is expected to attract more than 160 million television viewers, as well as the crowds who will be enjoying the huge celebrations that will be taking place at various venues across the city centre and the Merseyside region.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: "There’s a brilliant buzz around the region as Eurovision fast approaches.

"It’s an amazing honour for Liverpool to host this international celebration of music on behalf of Ukraine and, I have no doubt, we will do them proud.

"It’s set to be a fantastic spectacle with events taking place right across the city and beyond.

"This is the region’s first mega event post-Covid and since the Giants back in 2018 and the scale of it is staggering, with 12 separate concerts and nine days of Eurovillage and Euroclub.

"The eyes of 160million people from across the globe will be on Liverpool and it’s anticipated 50,000 people from 37 countries will visit Liverpool, as well as 1,200 members of the international press.

"My focus, and that of Merseyside Police, will be on keeping everyone safe during this nine-day extravaganza.

"Working closely with the BBC, Liverpool City Council, ACC Liverpool, and a host of partners, planning for the event has been underway since Liverpool was declared the host last October.

"Merseyside Police are excellent at supporting events on the biggest scale and their operational preparations are incredibly thorough.

"Officers and staff, both high-visibility and plain-clothed, will be on hand working to keep you safe 24/7 throughout Eurovision. Through our You’re Safe Here scheme with LCR Pride, we’ve also trained more than 1,000 staff from 120 venues to provide effective support if anyone feels vulnerable or scared for any reason.

"As events get underway, we need your help too. By acting as the police’s eyes and ears, you can play a vital role in keeping everyone safe. Look out for each other, and if you see something that doesn’t feel right, please tell staff or the police.

"Music unites us and, by working together, this can be the best Eurovision ever!"

Merseyside Police has played a key role in the planning for this incredible event. They have been working with partners including the BBC, ACC Liverpool, MerseyTravel, British Transport Police and Liverpool City council to ensure that all fans and visitors have an amazing and memorable time enjoying Eurovision and the different events lined up in the city during the nine-day extravaganza.

Chief Superintendent Jonathan Davies, Police Tactical Commander for Eurovision 2023 said: "The Eurovision Song Contest being held in Liverpool is a huge moment for the city. It’s been 25 years since the UK hosted the competition, so it is an absolute honour that our city was chosen to host this event on behalf of Ukraine.

"It is important to acknowledge our policing role in this event and despite it being the biggest policing operation we have ever done here in Merseyside, we are confident we have a robust policing plan in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.

"Hosting on behalf of Ukraine has presented some unique challenges whilst completing our preparation but we are confident we have the plans and processes in place to deal with any incidents that may arise and to prevent any significant, or ongoing disruption, to event visitors to the city, local residents and businesses. 

“We are expecting large numbers of people to head into Liverpool city centre to experience our bars, clubs and restaurants and we want all our visitors to know that we will not tolerate any violence, antisocial behaviour or hate crimes. We are linked in with CCTV operators and working closely with door staff, licensees and bar staff to help us identify these crimes if they do happen, but I would ask if anyone witnesses themselves, that they speak to a member of staff or police officer to highlight any concerns or issues and report any incidents."

Chief Superintendent Jonathan Davies added: "There will be a visible armed presence, but I would like to reassure visitors that this is not in response to any direct threat but just as part of our normal reassurance for everyone enjoying the festivities.

“We appreciate that this will be the first time that a lot of people will be visiting our city and so we want people to make sure their visit is memorable for all the right reasons. Therefore, we ask that people take steps to protecting their own safety by not leaving your property, including bags and mobile phones, unattended and always keep valuables close.

“Finally, public transport is expected to be very busy, which may well be further impacted by the national strikes which are scheduled to take place. As a result, we would just like to ask where possible, you try to plan your journey in advance so you know the route you plan to take and regularly check timetables, especially in the evenings. Information on buses and trains is available on the Merseytravel website - www.merseytravel.gov.uk, the Merseyrail website - www.merseyrail.org and via Twitter at @merseytravel or @merseyrail.

“So, it doesn’t matter which country you’re backing in this year’s competition or whichever festivities you’re taking part in, our officers will be out and about to make sure that everyone can enjoy themselves. Have fun, look after each other and remember to report any incidents to our officers.”