Met calls in police reinforcements to handle Extinction Rebellion London protests
An additional 500 police officers have been sent to London to help the Metropolitan Police handle the Extinction Rebellion protests.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced today it would help the Met by granting mutual aid assistance from all 43 forces in England and Wales.
Read More: Third day of Extinction Rebellion protests start as 600 people arrested
The NPCC said the Met requested the assistance on Monday and every region in England and Wales was contributing to the effort.
“Forces routinely share officers through mutual aid to ensure an appropriate police presence exists where there is increased demand for it,” he said.
“Quite rightly, the public expect their police service to make necessary arrangements to keep communities safe and ensure the welfare of all officers involved in operations.”
Read more: Extinction Rebellion activists glue themselves to Lorry outside Home Office
Close to 600 people were arrested over the first two days of Extinction Rebellion’s London protests.
Today the climate change activism group called on “rebels to pledge to noncooperation at police stations should they be arrested for making a nonviolent stand for the future of their children and grandchildren”.
The Met last night asked the group to contain its protest to Trafalgar Square, however this looks unlikely with further protests planned.
Protesters are set to hit London City Airport and this week, and have glued themselves to vehicles outside the Home Office and the Department for Transport building.
Extinction Rebellion is demanding the government declares a “climate emergency”, pledges to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2025 and creates citizens assemblies to work on climate change solutions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged the protesters to pack up and leave, calling them “uncooperative crusties” and demanding they leave their “hemp-smelling bivouacs”.