Merseyside Police gearing up for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sefton Park

Merseyside Police is this week gearing up to help welcome tens of thousands of music fans to the city for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

The event will run from Friday 23 May to Sunday 25 May in Sefton Park in Liverpool with up to 40,000 people each day expected to attend the three-day event.

We have been working with partners including the BBC, Liverpool City Council, MerseyTravel and Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure the three-day event goes smoothly and visitors have a safe and memorable time.

Chief Inspector Iain Wyke said: “The city has hosted many major concerts and events in recent years and visitors to the city have always been given a warm welcome and been able to enjoy the lively and vibrant atmosphere.

“We are expecting up to 40,000 people to attend Sefton Park each day, but I want visitors and residents to feel reassured that a robust policing operation has been put in place to ensure everyone can enjoy the event as well as the nightlife and attractions the city has to offer during the Bank Holiday weekend.

“There will a visible police presence in the Sefton Park area to reassure the local community and for officers to assist residents and visitors alike. These patrols include Project Servator officers in uniform and plain-clothes who are specially trained to spot tell-tale signs that someone may be gathering information to help them plan or prepare to commit a crime.

“Project Servator deployments will appear at any time in and around the Sefton Park area, but the public should not be alarmed by this. Officers will be encouraging residents and ticketholders to help us make this a safe and enjoyable event by being our extra eyes and ears and to report anything suspicious to us.

“We are anticipating high volumes of people travelling to Sefton Park each day and for the safety of everyone we would ask that if you don’t have a ticket not to turn up. There will be no designated car parking available at Sefton Park and public transport is expected to be very busy so please plan your journey, give yourself plenty of time and regularly check timetables.

“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 protect their own safety by not leaving their property, including bags and mobile phones, unattended and always keep valuables close.

“Most of all we want people to have fun and look out for each other, but we are linked in with the event organisers and security staff to help us identify crimes if they do happen. We encourage everyone – residents, visitors, and staff – to remain vigilant and report anything that they see that doesn’t feel right.

“You have a vital role to play in keeping our community safe. You’re never wasting our time, and no click or call will be ignored, so trust your instincts.”

Report suspicious activity immediately to a police officer or member of staff. Or call the police on 101.

Alternatively, you can report anonymously via the website gov.uk/ACT. In an emergency, always call 999.

Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Culture,  Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “We’re proud to be hosting the Big Weekend, and once again it’s a real Team Liverpool approach to staging this event to ensure that it’s safe, well-organised and memorable for everyone.

“We’re working closely with Merseyside Police to ensure comprehensive plans are in place so that festival goers, local residents and businesses, feel reassured and can enjoy everything that comes with Liverpool once again shining under the spotlight, as it hosts yet another fantastic outdoor event of this scale.”

The BBC has set up a dedicated app for the event (BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend Liverpool 2025 available on App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) and there is a dedicated site on the website, with the latest information and FAQs for those attending the event - www.bbc.co.uk/bigweekend

You can also visit the Visit Liverpool website for further information - Radio 1's Big Weekend 2025 Frequently Asked Questions | VisitLiverpool

Information on buses and trains is available on the Merseytravel website - www.merseytravel.gov.uk, the Merseyrail website - www.merseyrail.org and via X at @merseytravel or @merseyrail