Extinction Rebellion: Two-week protest cost Met Police £18m

It cost the taxpayer £18m to police two weeks of Extinction Rebellion protests.

The Met had already spent £50m to deal with the eco-activists from August 23.

The two-week action, came at a price of £18.1m in policing operations, including overtime payments amounting to £4.5m.

During the fortnight, over 26,000 officers were called upon. There were more than 500 arrests, in the main for public order offences. Other offences for which arrests were made include criminal damage, obstructing the highway and obstructing police.

XR and other eco-organisations held regular protests during that period. Oxford Circus was shut down and both London Bridge and Tower Bridge were overrun. Metropolitan Police officers removed over 100 people glued to structures.

Susan Hall, who is the leader of the Greater London Authority Conservatives, said: “Extinction Rebellion’s ridiculous and disruptive protests do nothing to help the environment. All these disgraceful protesters do is drag officers and police resources away from London’s fight against knife crime.”