Police Mount G20 Protest Security Date: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 Source: BBC News

Police are mounting a huge security operation as anti-capitalist and climate change activists plan a series of protests around the G20 summit. On Wednesday demonstrations are planned in the City of London, and anti-war groups are expected to gather outside the US Embassy and at Trafalgar Square. More protests are expected near the G20 conference centre on Thursday. Although most protesters are expected to be peaceful and lawful, all police leave has been cancelled for both days. With the global economic downturn gathering pace, police have said plans for the protests are "unprecedented" in their scale. BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the plan, codenamed Glencoe, would be one of the most complex and wide-ranging police operations for years. "Not only are officers responsible for protecting more than 50 high-level conference delegates gathering in London for the summit, they'll also have to police a series of fast-moving demonstrations," he said. Six police forces are part of the £7.5m security plan, led by London's Met. Businesses were also preparing for the demonstrations, with some boarding up premises ahead of Wednesday. One member of the anarchist group G20 Meltdown said he wanted a "lovely party" rather than confrontation. But Scotland Yard is concerned the demonstrations may be "hijacked" by people intent on using violence. Commander Simon O'Brien - who has been meeting some of the protest groups - said people had a democratic right to protest and that police would always respond to threats "proportionately". But they said they had been monitoring the internet and believed some people were planning to come to London to "commit acts of crime and disorder". "Clearly we have tactics that we have planned and used before in the past and we will be using those sort of planned tactics again today, if things move forward in that direction." Police have said they intend to use powers under the Public Order Act, rather than anti-terrorism laws while policing the events. They have denied reports that Tasers - electronic stun-guns - will be used to control troublemakers, added our correspondent. 'Financial Fools' day' Some of the more radical protest groups have claimed a "groundswell" in support, warning the downturn is bound to boost numbers on the streets before and during the summit on 2 April. A number of coalitions - both mainstream and more militant - have formed to co-ordinate action. They will be campaigning on a vast range of subjects, from poverty, inequality and jobs to war, climate change and capitalism. On Saturday tens of thousands of people marched through London demanding action on poverty, climate change and jobs.    Police and protesters mingled the day before the demonstrations began in full The Put People First alliance of 150 charities and unions saw just one arrest, for drunk and disorderly behaviour. This week some activists are planning direct action, including Camp for Climate Change Action and those acting under the umbrella name G20 Meltdown. Climate Camp - the group behind direct action at Heathrow Airport - has been using text messages, e-mails and social networking sites to plan what it calls a day of "spectacular action", which will see supporters "set up camp" in the City on Wednesday. Meanwhile the Stop the War coalition will march from the US Embassy to Trafalgar Square. And G20 Meltdown is appealing to those who have lost their "homes, jobs, savings or pensions" to join what they call a "Financial Fools' Day" targeting the banking elite.  To see the article please click on the link below. BBC News Courtesy of SecurityOracle.com - The Secury Industry's Portal