XR protesters set to land taxpayers with £21m bill

TAXPAYERS are facing an astonishing £21million bill for policing the twoweek protest by Extinction Rebellion activists, it was revealed yesterday.

The cost of tackling the XR demonstrators as they brought parts of London to a standstill would have paid the annual salaries of 875 front line bobbies.

The figure, which does not cover the impact to businesses, is likely to rise by “many, many millions,” said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick.

A similar protest in April cost the Met £16million.

Details of the policing bill emerged as XR organisers threatened to cause more chaos in the capital in the runup to Christmas.

Dame Cressida said the protests involving blocking major roads and disrupting public transport had put “horrendous strain on London and the Met,” and urged activists to rethink their festive plans.

She added: “It’s a big cost to us and the people who pay for us.”

A third of the Met’s officers – around 8,000 – were directly involved in policing the protests.

Curbing

A total of 1,828 XR activists were arrested and so far 164 have been charged. They are likely to be given a conditional discharge at court plus an order for costs but no fine.

Dame Cressida wants MPs to consider a new law to cover demos outside Parliament, without curbing the right to protest.

The massive policing operation meant a “less good service” for the rest of London, she said.

But Dame Cressida stressed the 999 emergency response was unaffected.

Senior officers put the XR bill in context by revealing the annual budget for the Met’s Violent Crime Task Force is £15million.

Met accountants will now ask the Home Office to pay the costs of policing the protests.

Dame Cressida was also keen to highlight the Met’s successes.

She revealed Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command has thwarted 16 Islamist-inspired terror plots and eight by extreme Rightwingers since April 2017.

In the past 12 months, the number of young people wounded in knife attacks has decreased by 15 per cent.

Gun discharges are down 21 per cent and “moped-enabled” crime plummeted by 48 per cent.

Pictures: GETTY, PA,LNP A third of the Met’s bobbies – around 8,000 officers – were needed to police the demonstrations which resulted in travel chaos across the capital

Protesters abandoned 80 tons of tents and rubbish in the city’s streets

Officers arrested 1,828 activists during the climate change protest