Costs $$$
Picture (left) of police who attended a press conference by Stop the War in relation to a court decision in relation to an APEC protest in 2007. The officers were on duty for 3 hours. Despite an entirely conventional press conference, at least 13 police officers were present.
Estimated cost: $3,217.50 - $3,903.90 (see details below).
The costs implications of overpolicing political protests rarely receives adequate coverage. Much of the information is not released except under protracted Freedom of Information proceedings. By the time the information is released, it is no longer newsworthy.
APEC $2 million fence
An example of this is the cost of hiring the fence that was erected for 7 days over the APEC period - $2 million.
According to the Australian of 5 March 2009, “Police have been fighting a Freedom of Information request for the full price tag of the fence for more than 16 months. Police have been fighting a Freedom of Information request for the full price tag of the fence for more than 16 months. It was only after the intervention of the NSW Ombudsman that the force relented and released the costings to news.com.au.”
Costs per hour
Police have also been loathed to reveal the costs of their over-policing protests. An indication of the cost can be calculated from the hire-out 'rent-a-cop' fees that police charge for attending private events. These costs are calculated to be at cost-price.
police officer: $82.50 - $100.10 per hour
police vehicles: $20.90
police dog: $18.70 (officer not included)
police horse: $29.70 (officer not included)
police helicopter: $3231.80
.
Capital costs
Public Order and Riot Squad officers wears about $8,500 worth of equipment.
The NSW Police water cannon cost $700,000 (it has never been used).
