FEARS have been raised that policing in London will be affected by this week's Climate Camp protest at Heathrow.

Damian Hockney, Metropolitan Police Authority member, said: "Official figures of the need for 1,800 police miss the point that this is 1,800 each day for more than a week and will play havoc with shifts and police targets.

"Boroughs will be sending busloads of police officers a day to protect Heathrow Airport during the climate change protest this week and not doing their normal work."

He added: "The Met will need to provide between 1,800 and 2,000 officers every day for a week, making 15,000 - three times the number for the Notting Hill Carnival.

"As Metropolitan Police Authority borough liaison for Kensington and Chelsea I know how much the carnival stretches the resources the Met, and I am very concerned at so many officers being taken from their normal duties just a week before.

"Boroughs are being asked to provide officers in such large numbers that their own areas could be stripped of adequate police protection for seven days at the height of summer."