#OPPROTECTOR The Conservative Party Conference comes to a close in #Manchester

The multi-agency security operation around the Conservative Party Conference held in the City Centre is winding down, and has come to a successful and peaceful conclusion.

The operation has been planned since the start of the year, and saw thousands of extra people enter the city to attend the event.

Operation Protector was launched to oversee the safety and security of large scale political events like this, and this year has passed without incident.

Here are some of the highlights:

The Home Secretary Priti Patel visited GMP HQ to speak to the teams overseeing the operation, telling them that delegates had been "waxing lyrical" about the fantastic security of this year's event, thanks to excellent partnership working. 

The teams behind the planning of the Operation on the Island site were also personally thanked by the Prime Minister for their hard work.

Sunday was the main day for protests, with up to 10,000 protestors marching through the city, and attending a rally, which went ahead without incident, and came to a peaceful conclusion.

There were thirteen arrests made in total throughout the Operation, six on suspicion of assault, two for public order and breach of the peace, two on suspicion of imitating a police officer, and one for flying in a restricted airspace.

One of the arrests was thanks to the quick reactions of the officer in the video below.

He saw a man have a drink thrown over him by a passer-by on a bike, and arrested a 52-year-old man on suspicion of assault. The man has been bailed with conditions.

Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry, who was in charge of the operation, said: “Policing this event presents a complex security and public order operation, requiring a high degree of multiagency partnership working and the highest levels of professionalism.

“As in previous years, there have been elements of protest throughout the conference period – notably on Sunday 3 October when around 10,000 people marched through the city.

“The vast majority of people attending protests did so peacefully and worked with us to ensure they could voice their opinions in a safe manner and with minimal disruption to others.

“I want to thank those who live, work in or were visiting Manchester during the conference for their patience while our policing operation was in place.

“Throughout Operation Protector, officers have worked tirelessly to protect delegates, manage protests and keep our city safe.

“I am proud of all our officers and staff. The feedback around our operation has been brilliant, and they have performed their duties to the highest of standards and behaved in a professional and fair manner throughout.”