Wedding security headache

The postponement of the royal wedding is causing a security nightmare.

Senior police commanders are holding urgent meetings to sort out what one described as a "major logistical headache".

The delay caused by the Pope's funeral means hundreds of officers are being called in to work overtime on Saturday for the wedding on what should have been a day off.

The new timing of the register office ceremony for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles means police are also trying to juggle resources on a day when hundreds of officers are committed to policing football matches in the capital.

There is no question of reducing the number of officers expected in Windsor. More than a thousand from two forces are expected to be on duty in the town centre and at Windsor Castle.

A senior source said: "This was already a difficult operation and this has not helped to say the least.

"Obviously we will be able to cope, the plans are in place, but the costs of rearranging it on Saturday will be significant."

Under police regulations officers are entitled to overtime if they receive less than 10 days notice of having to work on a day off, the amount of overtime rising with the less notice they receive.

The result is that many of those being called in will now be working double time and the original estimated £1 million cost of policing the event could be twice as much.

The Met faces additional problems in London because hundreds of officers will also be at matches involving Chelsea, Millwall and West Ham - who are playing home games on Saturday.

A huge police operation headed by Commander Bob Broadhurst will provide security for the wedding.

There are dual concerns that it may be a target for a terrorist attack or an attempt by an individual or group to cause a disturbance to gain publicity.

Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has said the wedding was an "obvious and enormous target" for a terror strike.

But police have had to plan for every eventuality, including the possibility that anti-monarchy demonstrators or fans of Princess Diana may try to spoil the ceremony. Officers are desperate to avoid a repeat of the Windsor Castle security debacle of 2003 when Aaron Barschak gatecrashed Prince William's birthday party dressed as Osama bin Laden in a pink ballgown.

The event has been more difficult to protect because two separate police forces are involved.

The Met's royal protection squad will be in charge in the grounds of Windsor Castle where there will be a blessing and party after the wedding ceremony, but Thames Valley will control security in the town itself.

A tight security cordon is to be thrown around Windsor for the day while police will have to protect the couple as they drive from the castle to the Guildhall and back.

Hundreds of uniform police will line the streets while undercover officers will mingle with the crowds.

Police snipers will be deployed on rooftops.

Some areas, such as the Guildhall, will become so-called "sterile areas" where anyone entering will be subject to rigorous checks.

An air exclusion zone over Windsor is also likely to be enforced though this is known to be problematic because of the proximity to Heathrow.

A number of roads in the town will be closed while traffic on the Thames will also be restricted while the wedding takes place.