An independent report into last year's Liverpool FC victory parade has concluded that the city “could and should” hold similar events in the future, praising the planning as “detailed and effective”. The parade, held in May 2025, saw around 1.2 million people line the streets to celebrate the Reds' Premier League title win, their 20th league championship and first such celebration in front of spectators for over 30 years.
The 65-page review, led by former Metropolitan Police officer Eric Stuart, examined the planning and execution of the event to guide future large-scale gatherings. Mr Stuart noted that the work of all agencies to keep the event safe was “impressive”, highlighting the strong working relationships between the city, the club, police, and other partners. He stated that the numbers who arrived could not have been anticipated, with more than double or possibly treble the expected number of people in the city.
The report explicitly clarifies that the Water Street vehicle incident, which occurred after the parade had concluded, falls outside its scope, as it was subject to separate police investigation and criminal proceedings. Paul Doyle was jailed for 21 years and six months after admitting 31 charges related to the incident, in which he injured over 100 pedestrians.
The review makes several recommendations for future events, including potentially shortening parade routes and challenging the government to tighten controls on the use of smoke and flares. Mr Stuart emphasised that ceasing such events would make “our lives poorer for it”, adding that Liverpool will take lessons from the report and apply them to future events of any size or scale.
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, expressed solidarity with those affected by the events of May 26 2025 and thanked Mr Stuart for his thorough review. He praised the professionalism and dedication of council staff and partner teams, stating that the strength of these partnerships has established Liverpool as one of the UK's leading cities for delivering major international events.
