Met Police launch inquiry into student protest

The Met Police is launching an inquiry into how it prepared for Wednesday’s student march over university tuition fees, which ended in violent clashes.

Thousands marched peacefully in London over plans to increase fees in England.

But outside Tory party headquarters in Millbank, a minority smashed windows, lit fires and threw missiles at police.

Met chief Sir Paul Stephenson said the violence, which led to 35 arrests and 14 people being injured, was unexpected and “an embarrassment to London”.

The police inquiry was welcomed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said he watched live the pictures of the Conservative party headquarters being attacked from South Korea, where he is attending a G20 summit.

In an interview with the BBC’s Nick Robinson, Mr Cameron said: “I was worried for the safety of people in the building because I know people who work in there, not just the Conservative party, but other offices as well, and so I was on the telephone.

Commenting on what he saw, Mr Cameron said: “Yes, people can protest. But violence. Not acceptable.”

The violence was also condemned by student leaders and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.