Costs $$$
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The costs implications of overpolicing political protests rarely receives adequate coverage. Much of the information is not released except under protracted Freedom of Information proceedings. By the time the information is released, it is no longer newsworthy.
APEC $2 million fence
An example of this is the cost of hiring the fence that was erected for 7 days over the APEC period - $2 million.
According to the Australian of 5 March 2009, “Police have been fighting a Freedom of Information request for the full price tag of the fence for more than 16 months. Police have been fighting a Freedom of Information request for the full price tag of the fence for more than 16 months. It was only after the intervention of the NSW Ombudsman that the force relented and released the costings to news.com.au.”
Costs per hour
Police have also been loathed to reveal the costs of smaller protests. An indication of the cost can be calculated from the hire-out "rent-a-cop" fees that police charge for attending private events.
rent-a-cop: figures per hour
police officer: $82.50 - $100.10
police vehicles: $20.90
police dog: $18.70 (officer not included)
police horse: $29.70 (officer not included)
police helicopter: $3231.80
uniform hire (to be returned dry-cleaned): $47.30 (per day).
In addition to the large hourly costs, specialist public order and riot squad officers wear $8,500 worth of equipment.