DSEI policing cost over 4million

mark | 05.03.2004 03:40 | DSEi 2003 | Anti-militarism | London

A local london newspaper recently reported that the policing bill for the 2003 DSEI arms fair was over 4 million quid.

EUROPE'S largest arms fair, held in Docklands last September, cost over £4million to police, The Wharf can reveal.

The Metropolitan Police are set to ask the organisers of the bi-annual Defence Systems Equipment International (DSEi) to foot the bill next time. This year it reached £4,380,000, with over 1,600 officers here every day.

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) said it was looking at charging policing costs to organisers of commercial events like DSEi and David Blaine's 40-day stunt by Tower Bridge last summer.

Feb 5 2004
Allison Martin

http://icthewharf.icnetwork.co.uk/thisweek/news/content_objectid=13916004_method=full_siteid=71670_headline=-DOCKLANDS-ARMS-FAIR-COST--pound-4M-TO-POLICE-name_page.html

mark
Homepage: http://icthewharf.icnetwork.co.uk/thisweek/news/content_objectid=13916004_method=full_siteid=71670_headline=-DOCKLANDS-ARMS-FAIR-COST--pound-4M-TO-POLICE-name_p

Comments

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oops

05.03.2004 03:47

1st link works, 2nd link is broken.

mark

Dodgy precedent?

05.03.2004 17:48

I remember the Police claimed at the time it cost only 1 million while a local paper's headlines [1] screamed in outrage it was costing £2 million. So 4 million + is well over the cops original claims. Interesting to see how far they go to manipulate public opinion by blatent lying about figures etc.

Wasn't it only when the Thames Valley Police bill reached £7 million that Hillgrove closed down.

It's a bit weird asking DSEi to foot the bill. Although this may hasten the demise of dodgy events like DSEi its also taking a step towards privatised police force. Only those who can afford it will be entitled to protection. So short term seems like a good thing but if a long term trend it could be setting a very dodgy precedent.

Some events already have to pay loads to cops - like some of the Green Gatherings in the past. They won't get permission to hold their event unless they have cops there. Then the cops charge the event organisers loads of money which is paid for in the price of the ticket. Racketeering is the word I think.

[1] The Newham Recorder

steve

Football clubs

06.03.2004 13:17

It wouldn't really set a precedent, football clubs pay some of the costs for policing at matches. I agree with your concerns about a privatised police force though, city centre shops paying for a copper to move on homeless people is one example that springs to mind from Bristol.