At the Emirates Stadium, Chief Inspector Pete Dearden is leading a pre-match briefing as Arsenal prepares for their 4:30 pm clash with Chelsea. This is a London derby, pitting the reigning Premier League champions against a strong contender. The match has been assigned a "medium medium" risk grade, a classification used by the Metropolitan Police to determine the level of security needed based on factors such as fan behavior, past incidents, and the time of the game. Dearden, who is in charge of policing on Sunday, stresses the importance of setting the right tone for the event to ensure it remains safe and enjoyable for all. The Metropolitan Police employs 17 dedicated football officers (DFOs), each assigned full-time to a specific club to plan and manage each fixture. These officers help coordinate the police response across over 500 football matches per season. For high-profile games like this one, three police support units (PSUs) are deployed, each consisting of an inspector, three sergeants, and around 21 constables. In addition, there are 20 operational football officers, known as "spotters," who work under the DFOs and are responsible for monitoring fan behavior. Football clubs also have their own in-house safety teams, and they work closely with the police to plan for matchdays. Arsenal, for example, uses around 1,000 stewards and response team members who are the first to deal with any incidents within the stadium. The Metropolitan Police estimates that policing football costs around £23 million per season, with about 10% of that cost covered by clubs through special police services. In recent years, clubs have taken on more responsibilities, such as managing road closures and preventing vehicle attacks, which has helped reduce the financial burden on the police. Spotters, who are usually based locally and work consistently with one club, play a crucial role in identifying potential issues before they escalate. Dearden notes that their expertise allows them to do the work of twice as many public order officers. They monitor fan areas, assessing mood and numbers, and can detect when fans are unwilling to engage, which may indicate they are planning something. Before the match, a spotter even performed CPR on a supporter, highlighting the life-saving potential of these officers. Meanwhile, outside the stadium, officers in blue vans are using live facial recognition technology to scan passersby, comparing their faces with a watchlist of individuals banned from football or wanted for serious crimes. This pilot program, funded by the Premier League, has already led to several interventions, including one involving a person recently released from prison for human trafficking. Despite the use of advanced technology and careful planning, the nature of football means that outcomes can be unpredictable. After a tense match where Arsenal led 2-1 in the final minutes, a late equalizer from Chelsea could have shifted the atmosphere. However, officers were able to calmly intervene when tensions arose between fans. By the time the final whistle blew, the stadium had returned to calm, and Dearden and his team were able to reflect on a matchday that, while not perfect, was handled effectively. A dozen incidents were recorded, including two arrests and 10 reports of various offenses. While Dearden acknowledges that the numbers were slightly higher than ideal, he praises the team's proactive and consistent response. In the coming days, all data will be reviewed to improve future matchday operations and ensure the continued safety of fans and staff.