POLICING the Extinction Rebellion protests has cost Scotland Yard £37million so far this year — more than twice the annual budget of its new dedicated taskforce tackling violent crime.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick told journalists the two-week protest action this month cost £21million to police, a figure set to rise by several million pounds.

This included £3.5million for police overtime, just under £6million for officers who were drafted in from 38 other forces in England and Wales, and £11.8million staffing costs.

Protest action by Extinction Rebellion (XR) in April cost the Met £16million, meaning the bill to date this year is £37million.

The annual budget for its Violent Crime Taskforce, launched in April last year, is £15million. This year there have been 115 homicides in London, compared with 112 at the same point in 2018. This includes 77 stabbings and nine shootings.

Dame Cressida said: ‘We are certainly at the point where I would say to Extinction Rebellion, this is placing a horrendous strain on London, and on the Met.

‘It’s a big cost to us and the people who pay for us. It is a huge drain on our people’s resources and energy, causing their families to have to make massive changes in their personal arrangements. Frankly, [it means] a less good service to the rest of London. Partly because people get tired, and partly because we have had to slow down certain types of investigations, and some things won’t ever be done at all.’

Met bosses will apply to the Home Office to cover the cost of the protest.

Nearly 8,000 Metropolitan Police officers were deployed for this month’s action, with 21,000 asked to work 12-hour shifts for part of the fortnight.

A total of 1,828 protesters were arrested, of whom 164 have so far been charged. In April 1,148 activists were held, of whom more than 900 were charged, most receiving a conditional discharge.

Senior officers have been in talks with ministers about potential changes to public order legislation. These could include banning orders to stop activists who repeatedly protest unlawfully, and a new criminal offence of attaching items to the road.