Policing demonstrations in Parliament Square by pro-Tamil supporters has cost in excess of £9m and has led to some pre-planned local operations “being cancelled or significantly altered” to ensure sufficient numbers of police officers are available to oversee the protests.
Speaking at this month’s meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the protests were a significant issue for the force and that attempts to reach out to Tamil community leaders had so far failed to curb the disruption caused to other Londoners.
Last week the Commissioner told the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee the force has to provide “such a level of resources that it is reducing policing on the streets of London.”
