Mayor and Met unite over May Day

Sir John Stevens has warned of bomb scares

London mayor Ken Livingstone has again urged people to stay away from the planned May Day protests which police fear will disrupt central London.

The problem with the May Day Monopoly protests is that violence is not accidental.

Ken Livingstone

Mr Livingstone, who has previously voiced support for direct action, said May Day Monopoly, the group believed to be organising the protest, had a "primary intention...to cause serious disruption".

"Strong evidence indicates there is a hardcore of people intent on acts of vandalism and violence," he said.

Those who live and work in the capital should be able to travel without fear of disruption, he argued.

"The problem with the May Day Monopoly protests is that violence is not accidental.

"No attempt has been made to organise the protests to minimise conflict with the police or to maximise peaceful participation."

Mr Livingstone has joined forces with the met

Mr Livingstone said there was "no excuse" for protesters to conceal their identities on the demonstration.

"If they are urged to do so it is because those calling for it wish to commit illegal actions and conceal themselves from the police," he said.

Mr Livingstone was speaking at a Metropolitan Police news conference at New Scotland Yard in central London where he joined the force's commissioner Sir John Stevens.

Hardcore

Sir John warned that police expected a hardcore group of around 1,000 anarchists to infiltrate legitimate protests taking place on 1 May.

"Some may try to cause disruption by making bogus bomb scares," he said.

"This cannot possibly be seen as a legitimate form of protest."

He added: "Let's not forget the loss of life at Omagh following misinformation."

Fears about the potential size of the protests have led to all police leave being cancelled.

5,000 police

An expected 5,000 officers from the Metropolitan, City of London and British Transport Police will be deployed.

Businesses that are likely to be targeted by protesters will get extra security.

Last year some protesters vandalised monuments and businesses on Whitehall.

In just 10 hours an estimated £500,000 was caused at various locations in London.

One of this year's planned protests is a "critical mass" cycle ride which is expected to begin at Marylebone and Liverpool Street.

Major demo

And a major demonstration in Oxford Street is also expected.

Sir John said latest intelligence suggested that between 6,000 to 10,000 people would converge on London for the protests.

"We have reason to believe at this stage there now will be 1,000 people intent on causing mischief and 6,000 to 10,000 will turn up on the day."

But both Sir John and Mr Livingstone said banning the protest would be "pointless" because intelligence suggested it would go ahead anyway.