£7m police bill at Heathrow's 'Camp Crusty'

The cost of policing the climate camp protest at Heathrow has been revealed as more than £7million - that's £100,000 for each arrest made during the operation.

About 1,800 police officers were on duty on busy days during the eight-day demonstration-last month to highlight climate change. Scotland Yard said the bill included £4 million for police salaries, while the rest was spent on equipment, catering and transport.

There were 70 arrests, for a range of offences, including aggravated trespass, criminal damage, obstructing police, burglary, going equipped and assault on police. A total of 35 people were released without charge.

The cost was revealed as politicians called for it to be met by the Heathrow operator BAA.

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat policing spokeswomen on the London Assembly, said: "This is an astonishing amount of public money to spend protecting BAA property when they refuse to pay their fair share of policing costs in any case.

"The Met has spent an equivalent of £100,000 on each arrest made, providing nothing more than a property protection service for BAA."