Police escort for the Prime Minister on 24th April 2023

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030009

I note you seek access to the following information:

To ask whether the video on Twitter tweeted today (24 April, 2023) by Politics UK (@PoliticsUK) among others accurately shows police officers being used to escort the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in his own official vehicle when being driven through London.

The video showed 10 or 11 officers on bicycles, police motor cyclists, police officers running alongside vehicles and no doubt police in the vehicles shown.

I would be grateful therefore if you would confirm the number of officers involved and the cost of this escort and whether this type of police presence is now standard practice whenever the Prime Minister is transported in any part of London.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

All the officers involved were already on duty for Extinction Rebellion protests and thus there were no additional costs to the MPS.

There were 6 officers on cycles and 18 officers on foot used to conduct this movement along Whitehall.

This is not now normal practice and was a specific response to a specific set of circumstances.