'Soak protesters with sprinklers' to prevent another St Paul's siege

Sprinkler systems should be used to stop tent cities appearing across the capital in the wake of the anti-capitalist protest at St Paul's, the deputy mayor for policing said today.

Kit Malthouse, who chairs the Metropolitan Police Authority, has suggested using "high powered sprinklers" in Parliament Square to discourage activists from camping in public areas.

As the cathedral opened today for the first time in a week, Mr Malthouse said: "We do not want any more of these things springing up. There is a difference between protesters and people taking the opportunity to camp in a public space.

"If they do go anywhere else we will obviously use the law to stop them. If they want to set up some sort of shanty town in a public space I do not recognise that as a legitimate protest."

Lawyers were today launching a High Court bid to end the siege of the cathedral as it emerged that the tents might remain in the churchyard until after Christmas.

The City of London Corporation and senior clerics are seeking an injunction to clear 200 anti-capitalist demonstrators that forced the closure of the 300-year-old cathedral for the first time since the 1940 Blitz.

But a senior source revealed the action could take up to three months - leading to fears the "Occupy London" protest will "squeeze the life" from the Square Mile until the New Year.
And legal experts told the Standard that a more "realistic time frame" would be getting the tents removed by spring 2012.
Mr Malthouse today said City Hall officials will act to ensure similar protests do not spring up across the capital.
Mr Malthouse said: "In the past when we have been puzzling through issues around Parliament Square I've always been concerned about the state of the grass, which can get very dry. Putting high-powered sprinklers on the square that would come on at 3am or 4am would have all sorts of added benefits for the square. If that happened to make it inconvenient for people to camp because of our decision to keep the grass watered then that's obviously an added bonus."
Green mayoral candidate Jenny Jones said: "It's a disgusting idea and no way to cope with a protest."
Today's injunction will be sought under the 1980s Highways Act, which prevents the blockage of a public road.
A senior source said: "We are expecting the process to last up to 12 weeks as the protesters' may resort to the Appeal Court and even the Supreme Court."