Taxpayers forked out nearly £2million for policing an English Defence League demonstration – twice the original estimated cost.
The £1million bill spiralled out of control as police chiefs drafted in extra support to cover the protest.
About 1,500 officers provided security as 2,000 EDL extremists and 1,000 Unite Against Fascism counter protesters gathered in Luton in February.
Seven arrests were made in Bedfordshire Police’s biggest ever operation.
Peter Conniff, Bedfordshire Police Authority chairman, said: “When we first talked about how much it would cost, we were only estimating. We didn’t realise how much extra help we would need.”
The Home Office is to reimburse the force in full.
Daily Mirror
