Inspector Dave Lockyear
Information Access Manager
Information Management Services
Mr Michael McCarthy
[email address]
[FOI #10852 email]
Direct line
Direct fax
020 7601 2279
020 7601 2088
Your ref:
Our ref:
11 December 2009
Dear Mr McCarthy
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REF: COL/09/197
I write in connection with your request for information dated 22 April 2009 in which you seek
access to the following information:
1. I would like to know who gave the order to send in squads of police to break up the
entirely peaceable climate camp in Bishopsgate on 1st April 2009. If releasing such
information is embargoed, I would alternatively like to know at what level within the
police service, the Home Office or any other official body the order was given.
2. I would also like to see any documents which bear on the issue of why the climate
camp was not left undisturbed for a day or two, with buses and other traffic diverted
through surrounding streets, just as various forms of disruption to the normal
movements of traffic and local residents were considered to be perfectly acceptable
in the vicinity of the Excel Centre where the G20 meetings took place.
Gold and Silver command of events that took place in the City of London on 1 April
2009 was by Metropolitan Police officers and the following information has been
provided by the Metropolitan Police Authority.
At a meeting prior to the 1st April 2009 between the Climate Camp and police
representatives, the police command team made it clear that any camp unlawfully
blocking the highway would be removed.
At about 7pm, cordons were put in place around the Climate Camp demonstration to
prevent disorderly protestors from the Bank of England joining this protest. However,
during this time, Climate Camp protestors were allowed to leave the cordoned area if
they wished. Violent protestors did approach the outside of the cordons and were
moved away.
Wood Street Police Station
PO Box 36427, 37 Wood Street, London EC2M 2NP
Tel 020 7601 2279
Textphone 020 7601 2906
www.cityoflondon.police.uk
Cont/ …
With the Bank of England protest cleared by 9pm, the Silver Commander directed
that the Climate Camp, which was unlawfully blocking the road, should be removed
and the Bronze Commander was able to move more resources to deal with the
Climate Camp. The protestors were requested to move under Section 14 of the
Public Order Act 1986 as they were blocking the main A10, Bishopsgate, thus
causing serious disruption to the life of the community. At about 10.45pm, PSU’s
started slowly and methodically to remove the demonstrators to allow the roads to be
opened. Reasonable force had to be used in the early stages as protestors resisted
and consequently a number of arrests were made. This prompted many to pack up
and leave of their own accord. The Bronze Commander allowed ample time for this
to happen, regularly stopping the advance so as to avoid confrontation. By 2am the
road had been returned to the City of London Corporation so they could begin the
extensive task of clearing the debris left by the protestors.
Further information is published by the Metropolitan Police Authority and may be
viewed via the following link:
MPA: Committees: MPA reports - 30-Apr-09 (06a)
Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to your request. Should you have any
further questions, please contact me via e-mail, letter or telephone, quoting the reference
number above.
Yours sincerely
Inspector Dave Lockyear
Information Access Manager
Wood Street Police Station
PO Box 36427, 37 Wood Street, London EC2M 2NP
Tel 020 7601 2279
Textphone 020 7601 2906
www.cityoflondon.police.uk
Document Outline
