'Ring of steel' fencing erected in Manchester city centre as armed police patrol streets ahead of Tory party conference
manchestereveningnews.co.ukSecurity is being tightened in Manchester city centre ahead of the Conservative Party conference, which starts this weekend.
The four-day conference, based at the Manchester Central convention complex, is set to bring thousands of extra people into the city centre, police said.
A security ring of steel is being established at the venue and in other locations as preparations enter final stages. Tory MPs as well as cabinet members and the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, will attend for debates and keynote speeches, together with hundreds of delegates. READ MORE: Shock after men with 'bats and knives' burst into garage in horror double stabbing READ MORE: Police issue arrest update after man blasts gun four times in 'targeted' shooting Running from Sunday through to Wednesday next week, it's the eighth Tory annual conference to be held in Manchester city centre since 2009.
The conference was held in Birmingham last year, based at the city's International Convention Centre. Greater Manchester Police has launched an operation codenamed 'Protector' to oversee security at this year's conference.
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