G8 Protests: Riot Police Deployed InLondon

Riot vans and a strong police presence have beendeployed in London amid demonstrations ahead of the G8 conference. Around 100 police officers were in Soho, central London, where protesters with banners were believed to be occupying a former police station in Beak Street. Sky News' Jason Farrell said police had entered the building in an attempt to clear it while half a dozen people in masks were stood on the fire escape and in a court yard "for a possible last stand". The demonstrators had said they wouldstage a "Carnival Against Capitalism" across London before the two-day summit, hosted by Britain, in Northern Ireland next week. Some of the world's biggest hedge funds, private equity firms and banks have warned their staff to take precautions in the event of disruption after similar protests in recent years led to violent clashes with police, vandalism and buildings being temporarily occupied. Westminster City Council cabinet member for city management Ed Argar said: "Our warden teams will be working with police to manage the streets and we also have clean-up crews on standby. "Everyone respects the right to legitimate protest and I hope this will be a day without incident. "However, business people, shop staff and visitors have the right to go about the West End without intimidationor interference and we will do our best to ensure the centre of London runs smoothly." There were reports on Twitter of a strong police presence in the Oxford Circus and Regent Street area of central London and Golden Square, close to Beak Street. Designer Jamie Rees, tweeting under @jamie--rees, reported: "Locked into work. Literally. G8 protestors outside targeting Golden Square." Another Ed McClaran, @edmcclaran, tweeted: "Big G8 protest outside our offices today. People chaining themselves to railings. Why they are in the West End and not the City, I don't know." Police protection of landmark sites across Belfast has been tightened in advance of the conference next week. The leaders of the world's eight wealthiest countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, are due to meet at the luxury Lough Erne resort in Co Fermanagh. Culled from Sky News