Wedding day security 'huge success' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Wedding day security 'huge success'

1:02pm Friday 29th April 2011 in Mellor © Press Association 2013

The biggest security operation in a generation has been hailed as a "huge success" as police delivered on their promise to deal robustly with potential wedding troublemakers.

Police revealed they had made 45 arrests among the crowd to ensure the event went smoothly.

Officers swooped on two minor anti-wedding protests in central London but said scenes were calm.

A police source said: "It's all gone to plan so far, it's fantastic."

The arrests were made "within and outside the event footprint", said Scotland Yard.

Offences included an allegation of a sex attack on a 14-year-old girl, criminal damage and 25 breaches of the peace. Some 99 people were banned from the City of Westminster, where more than 5,000 officers were deployed.

Cheering crowds were separated from the road along which the royal couple travelled by two sets of barriers several feet apart. Officers stood at regular intervals along the route, many enjoying jokes with well-wishers.

Witnesses on the ground said the two central London protests were good-natured but police were known to be keeping a "close eye" on events. About 10 masked anarchists from the Right Royal Orgy Group gathered in Soho Square, while the Red Lion Square group were said to be from the Republican Tea Party.

Ten of the suspects were arrested at Charing Cross railway station carrying climbing equipment and anti-monarchy placards, police revealed later.

There were another two wedding-related arrests after the ceremony ended, taking the tally to 45.