Anti-terror blocks to shield Pride parade
Met reveals ramped-up plans to safeguard highlight of festival
REVELLERS at this year’s Pride parade in London will be faced with a ring of concrete roadblocks to protect against a terror attack, a senior police officer has revealed.
Commander Dave Musker said security arrangements for next month’s event had been ramped up in light of recent atrocities and attendees should expect an increased police presence.
Some 26,500 partygoers are expected to flood the streets of Soho and take part in the parade down Regent Street on July 8, following the start of the 45th annual Pride Festival tomorrow. Speaking at a joint community meeting of the Met and Pride at London Southbank University, Mr Musker said there was “no specific intelligence with respect to a threat to Pride at this time” and that the public should not be alarmed by increased officer numbers.
But he said the event would be policed “within the context” of recent terror attacks in London and Manchester, adding: “We have an effective, robust but in the background security and policing regime. I’ve initiated a full security review of the policing arrangements for Pride in 2 0 17. I cannot publicly discuss those arrangements that will not be visible to the public, but they are in place.” One measure he did announce was the introduction of “big, concrete ugly blocks”, similar to those in the City and Westminster, designed to guard revellers against a vehicle attack.
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick acknowledged the celebrations would “look and feel a bit dif- ferent”, adding: “We’ve adapted our posture, we’ve changed some of our plans, and the organisers have changed some of theirs. That’s been designed to protect Pride more and to let people know that’s what we’re doing.”
Siobhan Linhard, operations director of Pride in London, said vehicle accreditation would also be in place on the day, along with bag searches.
This year’s theme is “Love Happens Here”. Half a century since homosexuality was legalised in the UK, organisers say they are more than ever promoting a “message of hope, acceptance, activism and love”.