London police preparing for largest one-day mobilization of officers seen in decades
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Security is tightening in London ahead of the coronation of King Charles III in what will be the city's largest one-day mobilization of Metropolitan Police officers seen in decades, the force said on Wednesday.
Security is tightening in London ahead of the coronation of King Charles III in what will be the city’s largest one-day mobilization of Metropolitan Police officers seen in decades, the force said on Wednesday.
There will be more than 11,500 officers on duty on coronation day, with over 29,000 deployments in the lead-up to the day and over the rest of the bank holiday weekend, the force said in a statement updating the breadth and scale of Operation Golden Orb, which has been in the works for months.
The multi-layered security operation will see police lining the processional route, managing crowds and road closures, protecting “high-profile individuals,” and carrying out searches with specialist teams, the force said, while authorities will also utilize facial recognition technology in central London.
“The watch list will be focused on those whose attendance on Coronation Day would raise public protection concerns, including those wanted for offences or have an outstanding warrant for arrest issued by the courts, or those under relevant offender management programmes in order to keep the public safe,” the statement says.
Officers from the dogs unit, firearms unit, marine support, and Special Constabulary will also be standing by, ready to respond. Metropolitan Police are also working closely with their partners and colleagues from other forces, and also at British Transport Police, City of London Police and Thames Valley Police.
“Our tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low. We will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining this celebration,” the force’s statement said.
On Tuesday night, police arrested a man and blew up a suspicious bag outside Buckingham Palace after he threw a number of items – believed to be shotgun cartridges – into the palace grounds.
