ATTENDEES OF LIVERPOOL FC'S PREMIER LEAGUE VICTORY PARADE REPORTED CHAOTIC SCENES ALONG THE 15KM ROUTE, WITH VEHICLES - INCLUDING HEAVY GOODS LORRIES - SHARING ROADS WITH DENSE CROWDS

10:46, 01 Jun 2025Updated 11:45, 01 Jun 2025 Concerns are mounting over the organisation of Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade after a car ploughed into crowds on Water

Street, injuring 79 people - including children as young as nine. Roughly one million fans had gathered for the celebration on May 26, and questions are now being asked about various

organisational elements beyond the Water Street incident. Attendees reported chaotic scenes along the 15km route, with vehicles - including heavy goods lorries - sharing roads with dense

former Merseyside Police officer was equally concerned about Queens Drive staying open as he joined the parade close to the Jolly Miller pub with his children. He told Liverpool Echo:

"As soon as we got to the Jolly Miller I could see that they had closed the inbound carriageway, where the parade bus would come through, but they hadn't closed the other side.

"This meant that lots of vehicles, including dozens of Heavy Goods Vehicles, were trying to get along the road among loads of people, who were basically penned in because of how big the

crowds were. There were lots of us asking what was going on, why were these vehicles being allowed through when there were so many people in the road? It instilled a bit of fear and

anxiety. I couldn't believe they were still allowing traffic through that area." Article continues below Calls are growing louder for answers about traffic management and crowd

safety - and how the celebration ended in disaster. Cllr Alan Gibbons, who leads the Liverpool Community Independents Group, submitted a Right to Know request to Liverpool City Council

requesting "urgent clarification and accountability" over safety and planning for the event. In an email to council chief executive Andrew Lewis, Cllr Gibbons said: "It is

important to know whether sufficient measures were undertaken to protect the public. Based on footage circulating on social media and mainstream news outlets, a number of critical questions

arise surrounding the circumstances of the incident, the preparedness of the authorities, and the overall safeguarding of the public." Clir Gibbons raised several questions about

incident details and response, and whether lessons were learned from past events. He specifically asked about risk assessments, identification of vehicle-borne threats, and measures taken to

prevent unauthorised vehicle access to parade routes. He added in his email: "Why does footage appear to show no visible police presence in the vicinity at the time of the vehicle

entering the area? What was the contingency plan in the event of a vehicle breach, and how was it communicated to officers and stewards on duty?" Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Carl

Cashman has also called for a judge-led full independent inquiry into the parade. Speaking about the safety measures taken ahead of the event, Merseyside Police's Assistant Chief

Constable Jenny Sims said: "In the lead up to this event we have been working closely with event organisers and a robust traffic management plan was put in place for the parade which

included a number of road closures throughout the route and the city centre." Paul Doyle, 53, from Liverpool, appeared in court on Friday charged with various offences connected with

the parade crash incident. He was remanded in custody to appear in court next for a plea hearing on August 14. Merseyside Police said: "We are directing all queries regarding road

closures to Liverpool City Council who had responsibility for traffic management for the event." Article continues below The Mirror has contacted Liverpool City Council for comment.