London: Occupy London protesters who camped outside St Paul's Cathedral for more than four months cost the City of London and its police authority more than £1.06 million (Dh6.2 million) in legal and monitoring costs, according to their response to a Freedom of Information request.
The protest encampment, the anti-capitalism campaigners' largest in London, cost the financial district £120,000 in legal fees and £28,000 in health and safety expenses, City of London Police said in an email. The neighbourhood's police authority spent £525,257 to move officers from other duties and £386,434 in expenses such as overtime.
Wealth disparities fuelled protests around the globe last year. The Occupy Movement began in September, when protesters took up residence in New York's Zuccotti Park to highlight the plight of Americans who suffered as the largest US banks recovered from the 2008 financial crisis.
Temporary closure
Demonstrators inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York moved to St Paul's in October, leading to the cathedral's temporary closure later that month. Police dismantled tents and makeshift shelters when they evicted Occupy London demonstrators from their campsite outside St Paul's on February 28.
The last remaining camp in Finsbury Square cost Islington council £10,000 to monitor, according to a response from a separate Freedom of Information request. Bloomberg LP's European headquarters are located on Finsbury Square.
Evicting protesters from their encampment around City Hall in November cost Los Angeles taxpayers $2.35 million, officials said last year.
