News from Brian Coleman: Coleman criticises expense of Tamil protests

London Assembly member, Brian Coleman, has said that Tamil protesters should quit Parliament Square.

His comments follow a written answer from Mayor Boris Johnson, which said that the cost to the Metropolitan Police of policing the protests between April 6 and May 18 is £7.94million.

Commenting, Mr Coleman said:

“£7.94m is an enormous amount of money to spend policing this protest and it’s a total disgrace that the London tax payer has been forced to foot the bill for a demonstration about a civil war in Sri Lanka which has nothing to do with Britain.

“The protesters have made their point. They should now pack up and leave the square.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Below is the question Mr Coleman asked of the Mayor together with Boris Johnson’s answer.

Tamil Protests
Question No: 1013 / 2009

Brian Coleman
How much money has been spent on policing the Tamil Protesters in Parliament Square?

Answer from the Mayor:
I have been informed by the MPS that the total estimated cost of policing the Tamil Protest between 6 April 2009 and 18 May 2009, is £7.94m.