The Security Review Committee of the MPS and partners met yesterday following the bomb attacks at the marathon in Boston yesterday. After reviewing all available information they decided that the threat level remains unchanged.
As part of this process the policing and security plans for the funeral of Baroness Thatcher today, and for the London marathon on Sunday have been reviewed by the respective command teams.
The MPS, British Transport Police and City of London Police are used to dealing with large events and proportionate policing plans are in place for both of these events. Police ask residents and businesses in London to remain vigilant but stress the threat level is unchanged.
No UK Links have been established to events in Boston.
The route of the funeral procession runs from The Palace of Westminster, through Parliament Square, along Whitehall, through Trafalgar Square, on to the Strand, Aldwych, Fleet Street and Ludgate Hill where it will end at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Planned road closures include all of the roads on the funeral route and all roads adjoining the route.
The following key roads will be closed:
- Parliament Square
- Whitehall
- Trafalgar Square
- The Strand
- Aldwych
- Fleet Street
- Ludgate Hill
- Blackfriars Bridge
- Westminster Bridge
- Waterloo Bridge (restricted access)
- Farringdon Road
- Kingsway
- Charing Cross Road
- The Mall
- Victoria Street
- Millbank
- St Pauls Churchyard
- Cannon Street
Blackfriars and Westminster Bridges will be closed for the duration of the event, Waterloo Bridge will have restricted access.
Road closures will be implemented from at least 7:00 on Wednesday 17 April. They will be lifted as soon as possible following the funeral, but road users are advised to avoid this part of central London throughout the day.
Commander Christine Jones, MPS, said:
“We are working together and drawing upon all our skills and experience to finalise the details for our policing operation next week. Our planning is being carried out using tried and tested systems so we are in a position to deliver the most effective operation we can.”
Working with all the organisations involved the police will deliver a security operation that is designed to ensure that events that day pass off safely.
4000 police officers will be deployed at strategic points along the route that the funeral cortege will travel, and road closures will be in place. There will be a range of security measures in line with the current threat level. A mobile team of officers, called reserves, will be deployed ready to respond if needed to events anywhere in London.
Commander Jones, added:
“Every operation that we deliver is based upon a thorough assessment of the potential risks, and then we plan the most effective ways to mitigate against them. We wish to deliver our operation in a way that protects and secures, but does not intrude upon those people who wish to pay their respects.”
“We are hugely experienced in safely delivering high profile and ceremonial events in the Capital.”
“Right up to and during the course of Wednesday’s events we will monitor a range of information to make sure we have the most up to date intelligence picture. There has been much speculation about what levels of protest may take place. I would ask anyone who wishes to demonstrate then, or in the coming days, to come and talk to us. The right to protest is one that must be upheld, however, we will work to do that whilst balancing the rights of those who wish to pay their respects and those who wish to travel about London as usual.”
To keep up to date with latest information visit the Met Police Website or follow their updates on twitter @metpoliceuk or @MetPoliceEvents.