Relentless Protests Widen Police Funding Gap to £240 Million, London Mayor Says

According to the mayor, the Met said it has taken over 28,000 officer shifts to police Israel-Hamas war-related protests on top of regular climate protests.

Police detain a person during a pro-Palestine march on Whitehall, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in central London, on Dec. 9, 2023. James Manning/PA Wire

The funding gap for the Metropolitan police could be as high as £240 million with relentless climate and pro-Palestinian protests piling pressure on London’s policing, according to Mayor Sadiq Khan.

In a letter to Home Secretary James Cleverly, Mr. Khan called for more funding to deal with London’s “unique pressures as a capital city.”