Protesters 'must pay for policing'

Aug 24 2010

Climate change protesters who broke the law should pay for some of the estimated £100,000 bill for policing a recent demonstration in Edinburgh, according to a police authority spokesman.

Councillor Iain Whyte, Lothian and Borders Police Board convener, said the cost of policing the five-day climate protest against the Royal Bank of Scotland could be even higher.

He insisted that meeting the cost of the event, against a backdrop of reduced public sector funding, could result in service cuts.