20 EDL demonstrators cost £58,000 to be policed!

It did occur that £58.000 might be better to go towards catching people smugglers.

That’s actually quite cheap when you take into account wages of those involved. I sometimes think there is a place for powerful water canons but I suppose they might hurt the little darlings.

What does the pro Palestine marches cost

I agree nanna8. Cheap at the price. What is the cost of all those cases where the whole panolpy of the police has been brought to bear on people for making innocent remarks, or of the man reported yesterday to have been dragged through the courts on a case of indecent assault where the CCTV of the incident shows nothing of the sort happened and one policeman, said just that at the time. The judge threw the case out the moment he saw the film of the incident because it showed that what had happened and what the victim said had happened were two entirely different things.

I was listening to a program yesterday on the cost of policing.
I would think it’s more like £580, 000 And counting.

Well said Monica. Look at all the costs involved with the Just Stop Oil protesters and other protest gatherings. The only ones who ever benefit are the lawyers. To be honest I find the OP somewhat inflammatory, especially the last sentence.

I agree Spinaker
Any protest or march costs a fortune in policing including football matches.
What did the Black Lives Matter and the Pro Palestine marches and protests costs, JSO and various other protest organisations.
The fact is that any protest costs money.

Were the police expecting more trouble from this particular protest, or has this one been singled out for a reason?

Perhaps Gnetters might be happier if we were deprived of our right to protest? Or go to football matches?

Some may do MaizieD but unlikely I think on the whole.
For myself am pointing out that protests, football matches and large gatherings have to be policed and therefore paid for.

I haven’t watched whatever TV show this was but I am surprised this data was disclosed.

Over time, there have been numerous FOI requests to Greater Manchester Police (and other forces) about the cost of policing specific events, including music events in Manchester at Co-op Live, Heaton Park and Wythenshawe Park; and football matches, especially the Manchester derby, Christmas markets, and Christmas parades to name a few.

The requests are usually rejected under Section 31(1)(a)(b) Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Sections 31 is a prejudice-based and qualified exemption.There is a requirement to articulate the harm in disclosing such information as well as carrying out a public interest test.

Disclosing the cost information for the specific policing area/events would provide a person who may be intent on criminal activities with invaluable information as to the capability / tactical position and highlight that the force operates in certain locations, thus allowing them to adjust their own tactics accordingly.

It’s hard to find specific costs per force of specific incidents, probably for this reason.

There might be general information available nationwide e.g. last year’s summer riots are said to have cost forces at least £32 million to police but gives nothing away about regional capability.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/southport-riots-cost-police-foreign-bots-b2650567.html

The total cost has already reached £31.7 million, but this is expected to rise. Over the 12 day period of rioting public order officers worked over 40,000 hours’ worth of shifts.

Sky reported that:

… although the [EDL] is now officially considered defunct, the sentiments feeding it - anger at immigration at the heart of it - have remained.

Merseyside police said supporters of the EDL appeared prominent in the Southport disorder after rioters clashed with police outside a mosque on Tuesday night.

news.sky.com/story/does-the-english-defence-league-still-exist-and-could-it-be-banned-in-the-uk-13190517

I don’t think anyone is in doubt that EDL type protesters gather in the hope of inciting violence but we know too that even peaceful protests and peaceful events can often erupt into violence if opposing groups meet so a police presence with all the costs of that must be provided.

Oreo

Some may do MaizieD but unlikely I think on the whole.
For myself am pointing out that protests, football matches and large gatherings have to be policed and therefore paid for.

Reasonable, Oreo. I actually agree.

And would point out that this all contributes to the domestic economy and GDP, whether one likes the reason for the expenditure or not.

petra

I was listening to a program yesterday on the cost of policing.
I would think it’s more like £580, 000 And counting.

That was for policing just the 20 people demo, Petra. Sorry it wasn't clear.

Thank you for that informative post, silverbrooks

Annie, demonstrating is a fundamental right in our democracy!

As regards policing costs, the terrible issues in Gaza and now the war Israel have started - we need to let the government know and raise public awareness what we want. I think the cost is justified.

Except, I'm sure we all agree, on any demo, there is a pesky and sometimes bad element set to either cause trouble or worse and that is wasted police money. Example is of course the antisemitism on the marches, which has to be tackled whatever the cost.

The appalling riots of last summer, god only knows what that cost - and for what gain to the public!

Do you know, I'm even hoping for several days of heavy rain if a big issue crops up again!

Do you know, I'm even hoping for several days of heavy rain if a big issue crops up again!

Ah PC Rain, the 'colleague' most coppers welcome, it's amazing how much difference it makes to crime levels in general.

Apparently, rain was the reason for the very poor attendance at Mr Trump's birthday parade/army celebrations - or maybe not?
Parallel rallies for NoKings day filled streets in many areas of the USA, many extremely large in number.
The cost of the parade was almost certainly in the millions, but is unlikely to be published.

The estimate was $25 million. The parade was similar to the ones that take place in Moscow every year.

Chocolatelovinggran

Apparently, rain was the reason for the very poor attendance at Mr Trump's birthday parade/army celebrations - or maybe not?
Parallel rallies for NoKings day filled streets in many areas of the USA, many extremely large in number.
The cost of the parade was almost certainly in the millions, but is unlikely to be published.

Interesting bit, very low parade numbers.

www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2025/06/14/tiktokers-are-claiming-credit-for-trumps-parade-attendance/

Can anyone explain why demonstrators who willfully damage property, such as the military jets, throwing paint over buildings etc are not required to pay for the repairs?

The paint thrown over the planes was washable powder paint. No damage done, just wash off with water. This is the same as just stop oil use.

No excuses..they poured paint into the engines..55million pounds worth of damage. Palestinian Action are absolute scum

Good point Anniebach!

Oreo

Some may do MaizieD but unlikely I think on the whole.
For myself am pointing out that protests, football matches and large gatherings have to be policed and therefore paid for.

I've attended lots of HUGE peaceful protests , CND, Stop the War, Not in My Name .

All of which were also attended by thousands of police . I remember once watching the police arrive en masse in scores of hired coaches.

How much is it costing everyday to police the pro terrorism Palestinian marches.