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News Desk
London is preparing for mass protests and disruption ahead of meetings by the heads of the G-8 government in London, before they go to Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on 17 June for the leaders summit. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that there have been 57 arrests in London as part of the policing operation dealing with protests ahead of the G8 summit. Just over 1,200 officers were deployed to be on duty as part of the policing operation around G8. The police confirmed that raids took place in an unoccupied premises in Norton Folgate, E1, following reports of criminal damage. There were approximately 20 people inside the premises. Intelligence gathered by the police and in light of the proposed demonstrations by a number of anti-capitalist groups in what has been labelled 'The week of Action' in the lead up to G8, the Met Police has been working closely with City of London Police and British Transport Police. In a statement issued last night the Metropolitan Police said: "We have sought to engage with protest groups who were proposing action around G8 through our Police Liaison Teams but at this stage no groups or individuals have engaged with us. We would continue to ask anyone who wants to protest in London around the G8 Summit to contact us so that we can work with them and facilitate peaceful protest." "As part of our engagement we have met with key business representatives in Central London and the City to advise them about: how best to prepare their staff, their premises and how to deal with protest in their business premises should it happen." The pan-London policing plan, Operation Hemingway, combines both dedicated and flexible resources which can be drawn from across London to respond to disorder or incidents should they occur. Londoners will recall in 2009 when London hosted the G-20 London Summit which led to central London effectively being locked down and the mass protests in the Square Mile: London Daily News coverage in 2009 of G-20: http://www.thelondondailynews.com/woman-protestor-feels-force-p-2709.html http://www.thelondondailynews.com/city-police-handle-ipcc-death-probe-p-2679.html
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