Question by Steve O'Connell

The Met police went over-budget last year largely due to the high cost of policing protests and a climate camp. Has the Mayor any views on how to stop this unfair cost on tax-payers by either reviewing how protesters protest or how police manage protests?

Answer by Boris Johnson

Public protests have been part of British political life for a very long time. The right to protest in public is one of our country’s great iconic freedoms: free assembly and free speech.

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is engaged with hundreds of civic events annually. The resources for events held in the Capital are frequently evaluated to ensure there are only as many officers deployed as are necessary, to conduct an effective policing operation. The MPS also works closely with event organisers and other partners to seek out innovative ways to reduce the cost of policing public events.