Far-right activist Tommy Robinson's visit to the Oxford Union has come at a significant cost to taxpayers. According to figures released by Thames Valley Police, the force spent £100,000 on policing the event, which was held on 17 June.
The costs include £80,000 in opportunity costs and £20,000 in overtime. Opportunity costs reflect the redeployment of officers and staff from other duties, while overtime costs refer to the extra hours worked by police officers.
Despite the significant costs, Thames Valley Police has stated that it will not seek to recover the costs from the event organiser. This decision has been welcomed by Oxford City Council, which has been working with other public institutions to recover costs from the Oxford Union.
Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, previously warned that the event would cause 'considerable disruption for local residents and businesses, and comes at a substantial cost'. The Oxford Union has argued that the event was necessary to maintain the safety of its members, speakers, and guests.
The controversy surrounding Tommy Robinson's visit to the Oxford Union is not the first time the activist has courted controversy. In May, he led a Unite the Kingdom rally in London, which saw 43 people arrested and cost £4.5m to police.