BRIAN HAW REMOVAL BRINGS MET INTO DISREPUTE - TOPE

12.34.32pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 26th May 2006

Liberal Democrat Policing spokesman on the London Assembly Graham Tope today told Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, at the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority that the mass deployment of police officers to evict peace protester Brian Haw from Trafalgar Square Brought the Metropolitan police in to disrepute.

In the early hours of Tuesday 23 May, Met police officers descended on Brian Haw's peace camp outside parliament to remove the 40 meters of posters, banners and signs. Under controversial measures in the Serious and Organized Crime Act, Mr. Haw's camp is only allowed to occupy 3 meters of space.

At today's MPA meeting it was revealed that the whole operation cost the Metropolitan police £7,500 and involved 78 police officers in total.

After the meeting Graham Tope said:

'Brian Haw's protest is seen as an irritant by the authorities, but the right to be an irritant is a fundamental part of our democratic process.

'The whole operation was an embarrassment for the Met and a waste of money and officer time that could be spent in protecting the capital".

ENDS