Security operation for the Queen's funeral is 'biggest the UK has ever seen'

The security operation for the Queen's funeral today is set to be the 'biggest the UK has ever seen'.

Royalty and a long list of world leaders as well as other dignitaries will all need to be kept safe as part of the mammoth job facing thousands of police officers. Thousands of members of the public are also set to travel to London and Windsor today to pay their respects to the late monarch.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said 'nothing can compare' to the 'hugely complex' task, describing it as the 'largest policing operation' in the Met’s history. The scale surpasses the operation for the Platinum Jubilee weekend and the London 2012 Olympics, which saw up to 10,000 police officers on duty per day.

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It is also the largest global protection operation dealt with by the force, with world leaders, dignitaries and other VIPs attending the state funeral. Former counter-terrorism police chief Nick Aldworth said it is 'probably the biggest operation that we’re likely to mount in the UK'.

It comes at a time when the country’s terrorism threat level stands at 'substantial', meaning an attack is 'likely'. Police and security services will be alert to the prospect of knife attacks, bombs being detonated, and all other possible terror threats or incidents.

So-called lone actor terrorism, in particular knife attacks, are now considered the main threat. But police guarding the new King and senior royals also have to consider the risks posed by people who are fixated with those in the public eye.

Members of the public have been urged to report any suspicious behaviour, with security experts describing potential