Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral requires the largest security effort London has ever seen. Police and security forces were already on the streets around Westminster on Sunday, the day before her funeral. Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Police Stuart Cundy said the “extremely complex” police operation was the largest in the history of the London police force, surpassing the 2012 London Olympics.
More than 10,000 police officers are on duty Monday, with London officers receiving reinforcements from all 43 UK police districts. Hundreds of volunteer marshals and members of the armed forces are there as satchels.
They are just the most visible part of a security operation run from a high-tech control center near Lambeth Bridge, not far from Parliament.
Street drains and garbage cans are searched and sealed. Special police forces on the roofs, sniffer dogs on the streets, naval officers on the Thames and mounted police officers are on duty.
Drone flying over central London is temporarily banned and Heathrow Airport has canceled numerous flights to ensure aircraft noise does not disrupt the funeral service.
According to Mayor Sadiq Khan, Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral is an “unprecedented” security challenge: hundreds of thousands of people flock to central London and the funeral guest list includes 500 crowned and elected heads of state. Worldwide.
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