Cost of policing Pope’s visit could reach £1.5 million

THE cost of policing the Pope’s visit to Britain could reach £1.5 million (€1.8m), police chiefs said.

South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, who is co-ordinating the unprecedented police operation that will see the Pontiff visit London, the West Midlands and Scotland, said the figure could rise further as changes were still being made to next week’s four-day visit.

More than three-quarters of Britons do not agree that the taxpayer should help foot the bill for the visit, which could reach £20m (€24m), including up to £12m from taxpayers, but the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, said it would be a “sad day” when Britain “closes its doors and says we can’t afford state visits”.