Ring of steel erected as Tory conference starts

SECURITY IS BEING STEPPED UP WITH MESH FENCES AND POLICE PATROLS

- PAULBRITTON

SECURITY is being tightened in Manchester city centre ahead of the Conservative Party conference, which starts this weekend.

The four-day conference, based at the Manchester Central convention complex, is set to bring thousands of extra people into the city centre, police said.

A security ring of steel is being established at the venue and in other locations as preparations enter final stages.

Tory MPs as well as cabinet members and the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, will attend for debates and keynote speeches, together with hundreds of delegates.

Running from Sunday through to Wednesday next week, it's the eighth Tory annual conference to be held in Manchester city centre since 2009.

The conference was held in Birmingham last year, based at the city's International Convention Centre.

Greater Manchester Police has launched an operation codenamed 'Protector' to oversee security at this year's conference.

Steel fencing has been put up around the Midland Hotel and the conference centre, with images this week showing police sniffer dogs and teams of officers on patrol in various locations. Officers were also captured surveying roof around the venue.