£34,000 to police royal visit to Leicester
Police spent more than £34,000 on dealing with crowds who attended last year's royal visit to Leicester.
The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Duchess of Cambridge visited the city centre, De Montfort University and cathedral during the first event on the Queen's Diamond Jubilee tour of the country.
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The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge
Earlier this week, the Mercury revealed the city council and the university spent £185,851 on the visit.
Now Leicestershire police has revealed it spent £34,125 to police the crowds who flocked to see the royals – taking the total spent on the day to nearly £220,000.
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A police spokeswoman said: "The total cost to police the visit was £34,125 and that covers all expenses including officers' overtime."
Thousands of people lined the streets to welcome the royals to the city in March last year.
Graham Smith, of pressure group Republic, which wants to abolish the monarchy, discovered the extent of the council's and university's spending through Freedom of Information Act requests.
Mr Smith was dismayed at the policing costs.
He said: "This adds insult to injury and means that well over £200,000 was spent on the day.
"Police forces are hard pressed to meet normal expenditure and we think that such costs as these should be borne by the palace."
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby and the university argue the money was well spent as many people enjoyed the visit, had a wonderful day and that it was an honour for the city to be the first place on the Jubilee tour.
Comments
by robertlaw
Friday, January 11 2013, 4:07PM
“In The Mercury on 29th January 2112 it was reported that it cost £1000000 to police the EDL march but only £34000 to police the queens visit. Dont begrudge the Queens visit but there is a lot of difference, for the same 1 day visit”
by DBLeicester
Friday, January 11 2013, 2:48PM
“£220,000 and people are saying it's worth every penny because of the impact it had on Leicester? If so, then why are we still having so many cuts in local services, empty shops all over the City and constant debates about having no money in the pot? It beggars belief...”