You’re likely to come across two different sorts of police in your time in Rome – the Carabinieri (military police, black and red uniform) and the Polizia (civilian police, blue and grey uniform), who both do largely the same job of dealing with general crime and public order offences. While the former can be somewhat confrontational when it comes to policing football fans, we’re hopeful that given there is no home team representation in the stadium that the policing in and around the ground will pass off without any trouble.

Don’t expect that the local police will speak English, however, and retain a calm and pleasant demeanour if you have any dealings with them to avoid any potential trouble.

Petty crime is fairly common in Rome, as in most major cities, with pickpockets working around the major tourist sites and on public transport. It’s best to be as discrete as possible with cash and belongings to mitigate the chances of being a victim. Around the streets criminals often operate on scooters, snatching bags/belongings and escaping before you’re aware of what’s happening.

The official advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office can be found on their dedicated Champions League Final website, but as far as safety/security goes, they have the following advice for United fans:

Official Foreign Office Advice

•    Do not take the metro to the Piazzale Flaminio or to use the Ponte Duca D'Aosta bridge as there has been trouble along this route to the stadium on many occasions
•    Use the free public transport provided by the authorities at Villa Borghese (entrance to V. Borghese is at the top of the famous Via Veneto) to get to the stadium and don't travel to the stadium on foot or by other means including taxis or other public transport
•    Stay as far away as possible from Campo De Fiori - there has been trouble in this square in the past amongst football fans.
•    Take care of your valuables in busy areas and on public transport –pick-pockets may be operating.
•    Be especially wary around the main railway station, Termini, on the number 64 bus, and when unloading baggage from airport/city coaches.
•    Be wary of groups of children who may try to distract your attention whilst trying to steal from you.
•    Don’t carry all your valuables - passports, credit cards and money - in the same bag, wallet or pocket.
•    Don’t carry valuables around with you unless you need to – consider putting them in a safety deposit box in your hotel.
•    Cars at rest stops and service stations can be targets for robbers –if you find yourself with a flat tyre, especially on the Naples to Salerno motorway, treat any offers of help with caution.
•    Store your valuables securely on sleeper trains – thieves have been known to operate on them.

Most of all, we hope that you enjoy the experience of the Champions League final in Rome and take all precautions to stay as safe as you can! Please call 0039 06 4220 0001 should you need to contact the British Embassy in Rome.

More from the FSF

If you are a victim of a crime, the main ‘Questura’, or police station, can be found at 11 Via San Vitale. It is open 24 hours. We advise all supporters who are victims of crime to report them to the police at the first available opportunity. We at the FSF would also like to hear of any incidents (anonymously, if necessary) as it helps guide our work with the authorities for future matches. Any information passed on to us is treated in the strictest of confidence.

For the days leading up to the game the FSF's Fans' Embassy will be in Rome, and we are contactable 24 hours a day on +44 7956 121314 - it might be worth just saving that number in your mobile phone before heading out, just in case.

We are also all too aware of the problems that Manchester United fans have had in ‘stab city’ in the past few years, and other English fans too (an Arsenal minibus was ambushed on the way to the Stadio Olimpico earlier this year, and Liverpool and Middlesbrough fans will be able to add to the tales of trouble in recent seasons). We advise all supporters to be on their toes, and to be alert to the possibility that the local ultras may wish to cause some trouble with visiting English fans in the city centre. It is perhaps advisable, therefore, to keep the wearing of colours to a minimum other than on the day of the game.