Agenda item

Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

Members received a verbal update from the Commissioner.

The terrorist threat level had recently increased from substantial to severe. This required the Force to review all its plans for forthcoming events and operations, including communications. The level had been raised on the basis of general rather than specific intelligence. The Force was comfortable it could manage what was required of it to respond to this rating.

Past quarter protest activity had been extraordinarily high. Since the G7 all the way through to COP26. The most recent event was the Lord Mayor’s Show, which did attract protest activity. A float had gained legitimate access into the route and it appeared that their protest was choreographed to coincide with a BBC interview taking place. Arrests were made quickly and there was a short hold up causing a 15-minute delay to the Lord Mayor’s outbound route. There was also an Extinction Rebellion (XR) protest which intelligence had initially suggested would end in Parliament Square. Contingency plans were put in place and a number of small blockages dealt with quickly so the parade could continue along the original intended route. There was an increase in policing presence and ultimately the Lord Mayor arrived back at Mansion House 40 minutes late. Whilst the Force wished the interruptions had not happened, they were confident that the incidents were each handled appropriately and proportionately. Members extended their congratulations and thanks to the Force for their sensitive handling of the protests.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.