Police throw up 8ft barrier to protect Lib Dems in Sheffield

Up to 1,000 police are expected to be on duty in Sheffield between tomorrow and Sunday to cope with the thousands of students, trade unionists and a range of other groups who are planning to use the conference as a focus for anti-Government protests.

Estimates put the cost of the security operation at around £2 million.

South Yorkshire Police said it was also looking into one report there had been a threat to kidnap Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg during the conference.

Mr Clegg is MP for Sheffield Hallam.

A force spokesman said: “The force is aware of the article. We are investigating its content and are looking to establish the validity of the story. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage in the investigation.”

When Sheffield won the bid to host the event in the city centre two years ago there was rejoicing among the local business community as the 3,000 delegates are expected to generate more than £2.5 million for local hotels, restaurants and shops.

Back then, no-one could have foreseen how the event, which is the party’s biggest ever Spring Conference, would become a magnet for discontent over Government spending policy.

Now an 8ft high concrete and steel fence has been erected around the City Hall, where the delegates will gather, and South Yorkshire Police has put in place a full contingency plan for possible trouble.

The city centre branch of Barclays Bank, which is just a few hundred yards from the venue, has decided to close on Saturday.

The City Hall is surrounded by glass-fronted shops - including a large branch of John Lewis directly opposite - but no other firms have announced any plans to close.

Many shoppers in the city centre were bemused by the construction operation which has fenced off a large area in front of the City Hall, including the city’s main war memorial.

But Superintendent Martin Scothern, of South Yorkshire Police, said the barrier was a sensible response.

He said: “With a conference like this there are a number of related security considerations we have to think about from the terrorist threat, which we believe is very low, right up to the threat of protests and disruption of the conference that’s taking place.

“This what we think is the most effective way of protecting the perimeter.

“It saves on security costs and it saves on the number of police officers that have to work the venue. But it keeps everybody safe and that’s what this is about.”

Speaking outside the City Hall, the senior officer said: “We are anticipating a large number of protesters coming.

“It’s very difficult to predict protester numbers but we are planning for a crowd that could range between five and 10,000 in numbers. That may be off the mark but at the moment that’s what the intelligence look like.”

Mr Scothern said police had been working with protest groups and there had been a “candid exchange of views” about what was likely to happen.

He said: “I think that most of the people who come will peacefully protest and won’t cause us a problem.”

A spokeswoman for Barclays said: “We have been liaising closely with the police and other organisations around arrangements for the weekend and as a result our operations will be moving to Arena Square branch for one Saturday only so that our customers can avoid any disruption in the city centre.”

She added: “Pinstone Street branch will open as normal on Friday - however, we will be liaising closely with the local police and taking advice should the city centre become very busy.barrier

“The safety of our customers and colleagues is paramount and we will be deploying extra security where appropriate.”