New police horses form part of safety operation at Birmingham City FC

Dear Resident,

All five of our new police horses will form part of the safety and security operation for the Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic game tomorrow (Saturday 13 December). 

We’re using this fixture to get the horses familiar with the stadium and surrounding areas.  

You’ll see Belgravia, Bruce, Yonkers, Yve and Yvonne around the city centre, Digbeth and streets surrounding St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. 

While highly experienced at policing football games, it is their first deployment to a match in the West Midlands.  

We have a comprehensive plan in place for this game and the two other fixtures in our region today.  

I’m pleased that our new mounted unit form an important part of those plans, along with the hundreds of officers who will be on duty, including our dog and drone units. 

As well as giving fans an opportunity to meet the newest members of West Midlands Police, the game will help them to become familiar with the area around the stadium.

If you need help before, during or after the game, you can ask any police officer or stadium security.  

Staying safe around police horses 

Our horses are highly trained and their riders highly skilled. 

The welfare of our horses – along with the safety of their riders and the public - is our priority.  

You can help us by following these six simple rules when near our horses:  

1. Ask permission from rider to approach and always follow their instruction. 

2. Only approach the horse from the front or side where the animal and rider can see you. 

3. Move slowly, calmly and confidently, and avoid tight spaces. 

4. Stand to the side of the horse - never directly in front or immediately behind the animal. 

5. Never feed our horses or approach them with food. 

6. Only touch the horse with clean hands, if invited to by its rider. You must wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after touching the animal. 

Remember: