Police have described how they manage high profile football matches, after a major operation as Crystal Palace FC hosted fiercest rivals Brighton on Saturday.

Hundreds of police officers, from Croydon and from the Met’s Public Order Branch were drafted in to police the game.

The operation also included the Air Support Unit, the Mounted Branch - horses - and Dog Units.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts, from the Metropolitan's Public Order Branch, said it was a challenging day but the vast majority of fans were well behaved with only a small portion of fans causing trouble, the main incident being a group of Brighton fans damaging a gate in the away section.

In the same fixture last season, the police erected a large steel wall in the aftermath of the game after receiving intelligence that some fans were planning to cause trouble.

The tactic was not popular amongst fans but Chief Supt Roberts, a supporter himself who attends games with his family, said he would do the same again if it meant protecting vulnerable people.

He said: "I do not make decisions to annoy fans. With the game last season, putting the wall up saved people from very, very, serious injury.

"We had factual, objective evidence to show that serious disorder was going to break out. If it had happened in the confines of the stadium children would have been hurt.

"We accepted we needed to try and communicate with fans more which is what we tried to do before the game at the weekend."

Chief Supt Roberts stressed that Crystal Palace was a pioneering club when it comes to policing, with 17 games earmarked as having no police at all at the game.

He added that 99.99 per cent of fans are there to enjoy the event, with only a small minority looking to cause trouble.

The planning that goes into games like Brighton is huge. Officers from outside the borough come in for a series of briefings, and walk rounds of the community so they are familiar with the area.

When the police expect to find a challenge, for example crowding, a ground commander is positioned to help manage big crowds.

There was one at Norwood Junction station, one outside the stadium and other strategic locations on Saturday.

Chief Supt Roberts even explained the history of the Palace-Brighton rivalry in his pre match briefing so police knew the significance of the fixture.

He said: "I have been policing Palace for more than ten years. I am not frightened to make a difficult decision when I have to at the time. People’s safety comes first."

Mr Roberts added: "We are the guests of the club and we have a very good relationship with Palace’s stadium manager, Kevin Corner, and his team.

"We are there to prevent crime, to protect life and maintain the peace. The aim is to ensure people get home safely.

"Each game is different. There are some big games in this division. When Leeds and Cardiff come to town for example it is always a party. We treat fans with respect. We are firm but fair."