RIOT cops are set to hit Benidorm’s streets as part of a huge World Cup security crackdown in the Brit holiday hotspot.
The Costa Blanca resort is bracing for an influx of football fans this summer, with Spanish authorities announcing extra police patrols after predicting thousands of Brits.
Benidorm has already become a go-to destination for British fans looking to escape eye-watering prices elsewhere.
Many have ditched plans to go to the World Cup in person, baulking at tickets costing up to £8.5million.
As such, this year’s World Cup is expected to send visitor numbers to the Spanish coast soaring even higher.
Local officials say airline capacity to Alicante has already jumped by more than 16 per cent during the opening phase of the tournament, signalling a major surge in demand from British travellers.
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The first details of Benidorm’s special World Cup operation emerged overnight after police and councillors met on Wednesday.
They sat down to coordinate preparations for the month-long football extravaganza, which runs from June 11 to July 19.
A spokesman for Benidorm Town Council confirmed: “Both local police employed by the town hall and National Police will reinforce afternoon and night-time shifts from the competition’s start and end dates.”
Referring to the National Police’s Alicante UIP unit, a specialist public order force regularly deployed at protests and high-risk sporting events, he added: “The presence of members of the National Police’s Alicante UIP unit is also planned in Benidorm.
“The operation will be adapted according to the evolution of the tournament.”
Jesus Carrobles, Benidorm’s Councillor for Citizen Security and Public Service, added: “Sporting competitions always generate great interest and bring together large numbers of fans, both residents and visitors, in public spaces.
“During the World Cup dates, an increase has been detected in the number of airline seats reserved on flights to Alicante, especially from the UK.
“This increase in air capacity is estimated at 16.4 per cent during the dates of the World Cup’s first phase, specifically from June 11 to June 27.
“Both the local police and the National Police will work jointly to reinforce surveillance units, and an information campaign will be carried out.”
The move comes after it emerged flight bookings to Benidorm had rocketed amid anger over the staggering cost of travelling to the United States.
Flight comparison website Kiwi.com said last year: “We have seen an unseasonal spike in bookings for next summer.
“The growth to Alicante for Benidorm is particularly steep at over 300 per cent.”
Last December, TUI was advertising a five-night Benidorm break departing Bristol on June 14 for £449 – £74 less than a Category 1 ticket to England’s opening clash with Croatia in Dallas three days later.
Bars and pubs in Benidorm’s famous Little England district are expected to be packed to the rafters with football fans.
England and Scotland supporters are also set to descend on Magaluf and the Costa del Sol for a month-long World Cup party in the sun.
Fuming Brits insist it’s the only way to “actually enjoy” the huge event without sky-high costs killing the atmosphere.
Tickets for the World Cup final on July 19 are already being advertised for just under $2.3million (£1.7m) on FIFA’s resale website.
But FIFA president Gianni Infantino shrugged off rocketing prices for tickets to the final, promising to personally deliver “a hot dog and a Coke” to any deep-pocketed fan who bought them.
His flippant reaction has not gone down well with with England fans, however.
The Sun visited the popular Magaluf strip just weeks before the tournament begins to speak to British lads who say prices are “absolutely ridiculous”.
Football fans are facing extortionate prices ahead of this summer’s competition in the US, Canada and Mexico to such an extent that it has brought the beautiful game to disrepute.
And FIFA this week sparked even more fury as they tripled the price of their best available tickets for the World Cup final – with top tier tickets going for £24,000.
Josh Foster, a die-hard Swindon Town fan, said: “I saw that one ticket was going for £11million pounds on resale,” as he sat with his mates at the infamous Linekers sports bar.
The footie fanatic admitted the incredible price was for the England final – although it might not even happen if they are disqualified.
With a pint in hand, soaking up the evening sun, the group said they would “much prefer” to watch it in Magaluf, insisting: “it’s not stupid money here.”
They raged: “Football is like a normal working man’s thing. Prices should be for everyone.
“They’re trying to see how much money they can get out of it.”
