Met Police Deploy 400 Officers for Millwall-West Ham Derby

The Metropolitan Police have implemented a large-scale security operation for the first competitive football match between Millwall and West Ham United in 14 years, citing historical fan violence. The Championship fixture, scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, at The Den in Bermondsey, has prompted authorities to activate a Section 35 dispersal order and deploy approximately 400 officers, roughly four times the normal number for such a game. The dispersal order covers a wide area stretching from Tower Bridge to Blackheath, allowing officers to remove anyone causing disorder. Police resources include dog units, mounted officers, and live facial recognition cameras. Officers will be in riot gear but without shields, and the operation aims to prevent clashes between rival supporters. West Ham fans have been instructed to use South Bermondsey station as the designated entry and exit point, with away supporters using other local stations to be turned away. The club emphasized that a walkway from the station leads directly to the away turnstiles, and police will escort fans to minimize contact with home supporters.