2,500 extra police drafted in for G20 summit in London

[Oscar Namechange]

Police chiefs to draft in 2,500 extra officers in £10million operation to beat G20 protesters | Mail Online

More than 2,500 police officers will flood London during the G20 summit next month in a £10million operation to counter the threat of violent protests.

Senior officers fear thousands of anti-globalisation demonstrators will attempt to bring the capital to a standstill.

Commander Bob Broadhurst, who is responsible for the operation, said police will be stretched to the limit as a series of high-profile events coincide.

Dozens of diplomats, including United States President Barack Obama, will begin to arrive on Tuesday, March 31.

Precedent: Riot police in a standoff with protesters during anti-capitalist riots in the City of London in 1999

The next day campaigners will focus on institutions in the Square Mile in a series of annual April Fool's Day anti-globalisation and climate change demonstrations.

As the G20 summit begins on April 2, the spotlight will shift to the Excel conference centre in Docklands.

In the same week, the president of Mexico will conduct a state visit, England will play Slovakia and Ukraine at Wembley and the Varsity boat race will take place.

On the Saturday, March 28, Put People First, a campaign group involving the TUC and 120 other organisations, will hold a march and rally in Hyde Park calling on world leaders attending the G20 to ensure decent jobs and public services for all.

Mr Broadhurst said officers from six forces will be involved in the massive security operation.

He said officers are working hard to try to second guess 'innovative' protesters who are determined to evade traditional security arrangements.

The senior officer said: 'We have to be flexible and mobile. One of my concerns with public order policing is if we police the last problem we had we will be caught out.



'These are innovative people and we must be innovative as well. I have encouraged officers to try and think about what these people might try and do and hopefully we will have something to mitigate that.

'It will be an exciting couple of days to say the least.'

Previous world economic summits and conferences have been targeted by anarchists, anti-war campaigners, anti-globalisation protesters and environmentalists.

All police leave in the capital has been cancelled for the two days and businesses have been told to cancel unnecessary meetings.

Protesters are likely to target London's financial district, including the Bank of England, and police fear the sharp economic downturn may raise the stakes.

Senior officers said many direct action groups prominent in the late 1990s have reformed and intend to target the city.

They anticipate small numbers of protesters may also travel in from Europe after linking up with organisers in online forums.

One of the highest profile protests will be an impromptu 24-hour climate camp campaigners hope to bring to the Bishopsgate and Threadneedle Street area.

It follows similar camps at Heathrow airport, North Yorkshire's Drax power station and Kingsnorth power station, in Kent.

Police are also expecting action to block streets, attempts to infiltrate businesses and demonstrations heading in several directions at once.

Officers from the Met, City of London Police, British Transport Police, Sussex, Essex and Bedfordshire will be involved in the operation.

Up to 40 armed convoys will ferry top level diplomats between meetings including the G20 summit and receptions at Buckingham Palace and Downing Street.

Mr Broadhurst admitted protests and police security operations are not 'happy bed fellows'.

He said: 'Everything is up for grabs. That is the aspiration to get in and clog up these City institutions as best they can.'

The senior officer said: 'This is a challenging week. It is what we do and what we do best but it is not often you get 20 world leaders plus.

'I think we live in extraordinary times and this has led to an extraordinary event which will bring a challenge to the Met.'

He added: 'Hitting us at the same time for a day, that is the stretch, that is causing the issues, rather than protecting people, which is our core business.'

mflPolice said a marine unit will protect the Docklands conference site from attempts to infiltrate the conference by boat.

Metropolitan Police officers helped police waterways around the Kingsnorth power station from protesters in rubber dinghies last August.

They also expect protesters to repeat 'ambush' tactics to block roads by holding unannounced picnics and tea parties in busy thoroughfares.

In the past protesters have dumped loads of sand in the street and brought children with buckets and spades to play in it.

Senior officers refused to discuss if they have infiltrated groups of violent protesters but admitted they will use intelligence from previous events.

Controversial units, known as forward intelligence teams, armed with cameras will also monitor the protests.

end

[Oscar Namechange]

Now let's see you dis-respect Gordon Brown over here Obama........:wah:

[Oscar Namechange]

G20 protesters to dump SAND in streets as 3,000 extra officers are drafted in to tackle violence | Mail Online