GMP sends hundreds of cops to London for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Greater Manchester Policing is dispatching hundreds of police officers to London to boost security ahead of the state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

Among the GMP contingent are armed police and personal protection officers as well as regular cops, many of whom have already arrived in the capital before the arrival of the Queen's body, which today (Tuesday) will be moved south from Edinburgh to lay in state at Westminster Abbey from 5pm on Wednesday until the morning of the funeral.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in the capital and police forces across the country - including GMP - have responded to a request from the Metropolitan Police Service for 'mutual aid' - extra police officers to ensure security for a huge national event.

READ MORE: Queen lying in state - official guidance and everything you need to know if you want to pay your respects

The exodus of GMP officers south is the reason Sunday's Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds at Old Trafford, considered a 'high risk' fixture which requires a higher number of police officers, had to be postponed. There weren't enough officers left to both police the event and continue with regular policing across Greater Manchester.

The M.E.N. understands GMP officers have already been dispatched, some of them north to Scotland to help as crowds visit the late Queen's body in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh while others have travelled to London to assist security in the capital. More will follow.

Visiting officers are being put up in hotels, unlike previous 'mutual aid' events in London like the Olympics and instances of civil unrest when cops often found themselves sleeping on camp beds in gym halls.

GMP officers, and other