By Charlotte Webster-
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) will mount one of the “most significant and largest security operations” it has led for the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort.
The operation, known as Golden Orb, will see more than 29,000 police officer deployments over the coming week in the lead up to Coronation Day and over the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend.
“It is our privilege to play a role in enabling Londoners and hundreds of thousands of visitors to enjoy this once in a lifetime moment of national significance and pride,” the force said.
“We have been planning our operation for months working closely with partners and colleagues at British Transport and City of London Police, and Thames Valley Police. Colleagues from other forces will also assist us.”
The MPS said senior officers have also worked closely in partnership with colleagues across government, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Cabinet Office.
It added: “Led by a highly experienced command team who have also been involved in delivering other recent significant events, the multi-layered security operation will include officers lining the processional route, managing crowds and road closures, protecting high-profile individuals, and carrying out searches with specialist teams.
“There will also be officers from our dogs unit, firearms unit, marine support, and Special Constabulary ready to respond to any incident or crime.”
The force said it intends to use facial recognition technology in central London.
The watch list will be focused on those whose attendance on Coronation Day would raise public protection concerns, including those wanted for offences or have an outstanding warrant for arrest issued by the courts, or those under relevant offender management programmes in order to keep the public safe.
“Our tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low. We will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining this celebration,” it added.
Outside central London at the 1,800 registered events taking place, local officers alongside cadets and volunteers will be in their local communities looking after those attending street parties, and engaging with local residents.
“While we are focused on the celebratory events, we have a comprehensive plan for dealing with day-to-day incidents across the capital to ensure we continue to provide a response to those who need it,” said the MPS.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said they want Londoners and visitors coming to the city to enjoy this “historic and momentous occasion safely and securely”.
“On Coronation Day we will have the largest one day mobilisation of officers seen in decades with just over 11,500 officers on duty,” he told journalists.
“The weekend promises to be a spectacular celebration and the Met police is honoured to be policing such an internationally important event across the capital.
“We have been planning for this occasion for some time; the Met has a long history of policing such events and we will draw upon our diverse expertise from across our organisation, using officers and specialist units to keep people safe and tackle any arising issues.
“London is one of the most exciting and diverse cities in the world and throughout the celebrations, we will be at the heart of and doing all we can to be connected with the people and communities we serve.”
He said officers are there to help and is urging anyone who feels “something doesn’t look right” to speak to them.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said the coronation involves “one of the most important security operations that the country has put into plan.”
“This is an enormously important moment for the country,” Tugendhat told Times Radio. “The police are, to put it mildly, all over it, and our intelligence and other security forces are extremely aware of the challenges that we face and ready to deal with them – as the police did quite brilliantly yesterday.”
The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man on Tuesday evening after he approached the palace gates and threw items suspected to be shotgun cartridges into the palace grounds.