Extinction Rebellion protests cost West Yorkshire Police nearly £200,000

The protests by Extinction Rebellion, which took place between July 15 and July 19, set the West Yorkshire force back £197,928, a Freedom of Information Request has revealed.

The five days of action saw the group protest against investment into the fossil fuel industry, which they say is funded by the finance sector and the Government.

The city centre was brought to a standstill when the activists blocked the two entrances to Victoria Bridge, at the Bridgewater Place junction and Sovereign Street junction.

The protestors were calling on the Government to declare a climate emergency and work with other organisations to ‘communicate the urgency’ for change'.

The group said they chose to disrupt Leeds as the biggest and fastest growing financial district outside of London.

As a result of the protests, a number of police officers had to cancel their rest days to police the protests.

West Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Brian Booth said the cost to the force has had "a real detrimental effect on us all".

He said: "Every penny that has been used on policing this event is a penny that could have spent much better on local policing issues within West Yorkshire.