Cost of policing Tommy Robinson rallies in 2024 and February 2025
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.25.042900
I note you seek access to the following information:
Recently, and during 2024, Tommy Robinson (AKA Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) and his supporters held 3 rallies in London. There were also 'counter demonstrations' for each of the protests.
Saturday 27 July 2024
Saturday 26 October 2024
Saturday 1 February 2025.
As these were organised protests under the supervision of Metropolitan Police, I'd like to request the following information, for both the rallies and the counter demonstrations:
- Prior to each of the events, what were the expected/predicted number of people attending the rally (which helped inform the safety planning etc.)
- After the events, what was the estimated attendance figures of each of the rallies.
- What was the estimated total extra cost to policing each of these demonstrations.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - Prior to each of the events, what were the expected/predicted number of people attending the rally (which helped inform the safety planning etc.)
Pre-event (Estimates Only) – Needs to made clear to the FOIA that this information comes from the organiser originally
Saturday 27 July 2024 – For 01/06 – Estimates 10,000
Saturday 26 October 2024 – Estimates 20,000
Saturday 1 February 2025 – Estimates 5000-25000
Q2 - After the events, what was the estimated attendance figures of each of the rallies.
Post-Event (Estimates Only)
Saturday 27 July 2024. Estimates 12,000
Saturday 26 October 2024. Estimates 10-15,000
Saturday 1 February 2025. Estimates 5-6,000
Q3 - What was the estimated total extra cost to policing each of these demonstrations
Costs;
Saturday 27 July 2024 - £897,0818.35 (inc £681 opportunity cost*)
Saturday 26 October 2024. £1,482,870 (inc £894k opportunity cost*)
Saturday 1 February 2025. £970,074 (inc £746k opportunity cost*)
*opportunity cost is the cost of re-deploying officers from their day job onto an aid deployment