Bush Visit Will be Double Hit On Local Residents

12.34.31pm GMT Mon 17th Nov 2003

Policing President Bush's visit to London by will hit Orpington residents twice, according to local Liberal Democrat Chris Maines. Local officers will disappear as they are deployed in Central London and the cost will met from the pocket of local Council Tax payers.

"It is worrying to hear that the Metropolitan Police will be concentrating all resources on policing this visit. The absence of Police will leave our streets in Orpington even more vulnerable to crime than normal," said Cllr Maines.

"And of course, it's the poor old Council Tax payer that is expected to pick up the bill for could be the most expensive single event the Met. has ever policed. Estimates suggest a staggering £6 million could be met from Council Tax." claimed the Liberal Democrat leader Cllr. Chris Maines.

Cllr Maines believes that the Government should meet all the additional costs from general taxation and that additional police officers should be brought in from other forces to help meet the additional duties resulting the President's visit.

"The Government were keen to invite President Bush, they should have made arrangements to ensure the streets in the rest of London are adequately policed during the visit. They should also announce that the incredible cost of this visit should not fall on just Londoners."