Extinction Rebellion's (XR) summer protests in London cost the taxpayer more than £18 million in policing, new Metropolitan Police figures revealed today.
The new figures bring the total taxpayer bill for XR protests up to almost £70 million. In response, City Hall Tories' Leader Susan Hall AM has called on the Mayor to review how the Metropolitan Police responds to protests to stop groups like XR who deliberately deploy tactics to waste police resources.
The Met Police also revealed that a total of 27,229 police officer and staff days were lost policing the XR protests between 23 August and 5 September. Met officers and staff saw 5,812 days of leave cancelled, including bank holidays.
The Met also confirmed that over 508 arrests were made during the 15 days of XR protests.
Susan Hall AM, Leader of the GLA Conservatives, commented: "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.
"Sadiq Khan urgently needs to look at how the Metropolitan Police responds to damaging protest groups like Extinction Rebellion. It's totally unacceptable that these protesters can run amok in London and stop people from getting to work, hospital or school but face little to no consequences.
"It adds insult to injury that Extinction Rebellion deploys tactics deliberately to waste police resources. This latest policing bill brings the total cost to almost £70 million. What does Extinction Rebellion need to do before the Mayor finally acts?"
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