The number of police deployed to cover the Croydon Immigration Rallies earlier this year been revealed.

Five people were arrested in May as anti-fascist and a right-wing anti-immigration group clashed at a march when the South East Alliance held a three hour protest in front of Lunar House, the headquarters of the Home Office's Headquarters for Immigration and Visas.

A heavy police presence dominated the area in what a witness at the time described as a ‘surreal event.'

It has now been revealed that 406 police officers in total were deployed to cover the rallies.

A freedom of information request was submitted to the Metropolitan Police Service asking for the "exact number of police officers which were deployed" for the rallies as well as the cost to police.

The breakdown of police officers is as such:

Rank | Number of Officers

Commander (1)

Superintendent (2)

Chief Inspector (2)

Inspector (12)

Police Sergeant (61)

Police Constable (328)

Total (406)

The same FOI request asked to see "how much this would have cost to police in total."

This request for information did not field an answer to the question however.

"The MPS does not routinely 'cost' policing particular events or demonstrations," Information Manager Ian Burgess said in the response.

"The MPS has not accordingly captured all costs associated with policing the Croydon South East Alliance event.

"This would include the cost of salaries (inclusive of employer national insurance contributions, police pension contributions and officer allowances), vehicles, operational feeding, equipment and other miscellaneous costs.

"The requested information cannot accordingly be provided to you as it is not held by the MPS."

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said at the time of the rallies that: “members of the South East Alliance held a planned anti-immigration protest in Croydon town centre outside Lunar House, Wellesley Road.

"A group of counter demonstrators from anti-fascist movements were also present. Both groups were policed by a proportionate pre-planned operation. There have been five arrests and no injuries have been reported.”

The protesters marched from East Croydon, down to George Street and Central Croydon.