Forty-three people were arrested during a £4.5 million police operation to keep rival protest groups apart across London, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.
The taxpayer-funded deployment saw officers from across the Met create strict cordons and designated routes to prevent direct confrontation between opposing demonstrators. The strategy successfully avoided widespread disorder, police said.
Those arrested face charges including public order violations, assault on emergency workers, possession of offensive weapons, and inciting racial hatred. All remain under investigation.
The operation required officers from across the Metropolitan Police force, with additional resources likely drawn from neighbouring forces. The scale reflects the perceived risk of serious public disorder in the capital.
The substantial cost raises questions about the sustainability of such expensive policing operations as large-scale protests become increasingly common in London. Whilst the Home Office sometimes provides special grant funding for exceptionally complex operations, the baseline cost remains significant for local forces.
The demonstrations disrupted public transport and affected local businesses, adding to concerns about the wider impact of such events. However, supporters of protest rights stress the importance of allowing peaceful demonstration whilst acknowledging the need for effective public order management.
Source: BBC