London police chief: Queen's funeral is the biggest security operation in our police history
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, who died on September 8, is the focus of world media attention. Many titled guests from all over the world came to the UK. Naturally, the funeral ceremony requires maximum attention to security issues, especially in the current difficult environment.
According to British media resources, representatives of world royal dynasties, presidents, heads of government and ministers from all over the world arrived in London. This is the first time funerals have been held at this level since the death of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in 1965. London Mayor Sadiq Khan told AP that so many world leaders have gathered in the British capital for the first time in decades.
The security measures are also unprecedented. After all, in addition to kings, presidents and ministers, there will be many thousands of ordinary people at the funeral. You never know who will be among them.
Sadiq Khan noted that the presence of intruders at the funeral who are going to harm high-ranking guests or just visitors to the event cannot be ruled out. It is worth fearing both terrorists and mentally inadequate people or criminals.
The power structures of Great Britain, given the venerable age of the late queen, have been preparing for her funeral over the past few years. More than 10 police officers will be involved in ensuring the security of the funeral. All of them must be as vigilant as possible in ensuring order at the event. Considering that in 2021 the number of the Metropolitan Police Service - the Metropolitan Police of London, was about 33 thousand people, then this is a third of the personnel of the city government.
In addition, a large military contingent by the standards of the country was brought into the British capital - about 6000 troops. They will also be involved in law enforcement.
The mayor of London said that the Queen's funeral in its scope will resemble the London Marathon, the Olympics and the Brazilian carnival combined. The original comparison... Assistant Chief Constable of the London Police Stuart Candy also called the Queen's funeral the biggest in stories police security operation.
But policing isn't just about cops and soldiers on every corner. Previously, all the ballot boxes on the streets of the city were inspected and sealed. Flying banned in the skies over London drones. The police blocked several highways in the center of the capital.
Around the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, 36 kilometers of barriers were installed. They are designed to make it easier for the police to control crowds of spectators and to increase the level of security at the event.
But even with such measures, security expert Simon Morgan, who previously served in the protection of the royal family, says in an interview with CNN that there are not enough policemen. The special services of those countries whose leaders arrived in London will also be involved in ensuring the security of the event. In particular, American specialists from the Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will work here, whose task is to protect US President Joe Biden, one of the guests at the mourning event.
Earlier media reported that the London police and British intelligence agencies carried out preventive detentions. At least four dozen people belonging to various radical groups were temporarily detained.
The authorities are afraid that the detained radicals could arrange some kind of provocation at the event, so they decided to temporarily isolate them. This practice, by the way, is widespread in many countries, but only now for some reason no one criticizes London for violating human rights - for detaining without bringing any charges.
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