London police in major security operation for G20

A MAJOR policing and security operation is under way in London in preparation for a G20 summit which Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson warns is attracting “unprecedented” levels of protest plans.

The first of those takes place today with a “Put the People First” march through Parliament Square to a Hyde Park rally after an inter-denominational service at Westminster Hall led by the Bishop of London.

At a separate rally this afternoon the so-called Anarchist Block will be seeking recruits for its “Financial Fools Day” protest on Wednesday, April 1st, when police anticipate protesters will mount a determined effort to close down the City of London.

All leave has been cancelled for a major policing task hugely complicated by the security needs of visiting world leaders and ongoing concerns about the continuing high level of the terrorist threat, in what Sir Paul described as “one of, if not the most, challenging and complex operations” ever faced by his force.

With bank workers being advised to “dress down” on Wednesday and Thursday, a university professor has been suspended from his post after suggesting bankers might be found “hanging from lampposts” should things “get nasty” during the planned protests.

Following this week’s attack on the home of former RBS chief Sir Fred Goodwin’s Edinburgh home, Chris Knight told the BBC of plans to hang effigies of people like Sir Fred from lampposts on April Fool’s Day.

While stressing his commitment to keep the situation “humorous”, and saying he hoped it would not happen, Mr Knight suggested “real bankers” might find themselves similarly treated: “They should realise the amount of fury and hatred there is for them and act quickly, because quite honestly, if it isn’t humour it is going to be anger”.

With leading hospitals on standby to treat people injured during any public disorder, the Met Commissioner said: “In terms of planned protests, the G20 is certainly attracting a significant amount of interest. There seems to be an unprecedented level of protests planned. We are seeing the return of some old faces, protest groups who see the G20 as an opportunity to galvanise support for their demonstrations. We may also see protest groups from other countries involved in the summit. We could see a different sort of protest in London from the sort we are used to.”

Meanwhile, the political pressure on prime minister Gordon Brown continued to build with an opinion poll yesterday giving the Conservatives a 10-point lead over Labour while suggesting more than two-thirds of British voters now want to see cuts in public spending while maintaining front-line services such as schools and hospitals.

The apparent growing desire to see the UK living within its means follows the governor of the Bank of England’s warning earlier this week that chancellor Alistair Darling probably can not afford a second significant fiscal stimulus in his budget next month.

Before travelling from Brazil to Chile yesterday, Mr Brown advised people not to be “cynical” about what can be achieved at next week’s summit.