Scotland Yard (Metropolitan Police, aka Met) has come forward with the cost of dealing with all the various anti government protests.
From April 2010 to March 2011, the Met spent $56.7 million to provide security for demonstrations for everything from anti spending cuts, to anti student fee increases, to even elections and a visit from the Pope, and, protecting former Prime Minister Tony Blair for his appearance before the Iraq War Inquiry.
The most expensive single event was the December 9, 2010, anti tuition fee increase demonstration. It cost $2.1 million.
To be sure, the yearly costs to the London Met wouldn’t have been so high if it weren’t for all the anti government demonstrations.