Commander Robert Broadhurst told MPs there were "several intimates" from the Chinese that the London leg of the Olympic torch relay would have been switched to another capital city if Britain had banned the "torch attendants" who were described as "thugs" by London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

 

Broadhurst admitted to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee London police had not anticipated the torch coming under attack from the moment it left Wembley Stadium until finishing its journey 31 miles later in Greenwich.

 

He said: "It was a rolling melee for 31 miles... It was undignified... Officers were attacked, bottles and cans were thrown at us along a large part of the route... To be attacked for 31 miles was quite a lot of pressure on those people."

 

Broadhurst also did not deny allegations that the Chinese guards, recruited from paramilitary organisations, were aggressive towards protesters.

 

He said it was "a natural reaction" that they acted in the way they did.

 

Broadhurst said: "We did not anticipate that those out to attack the torch would start at Wembley and not finish until 31 miles away at Greenwich.

 

"The sheer exuberance and energy of the protesters from start to finish was not anticipated."

 

Broadhurst said the police had negotiated with the Chinese through the Greater London authority, and early in the proceedings the Chinese had "tried to stamp their authority".

 

But the Metropolitan Police had reminded them in "no uncertain terms" who was in charge of the operation.

 

Broadhurst disclosed six complaints were received, three of which had been resolved.

 

There had been no formal complaint from Coe, who said he had been pushed and shoved by the Chinese guards.

 

Broadhurst suggested that the question of the torch relay would have to be looked at again for the 2012 London Olympics.

 

He confirmed a decision has yet to be taken on whether the torch will return to London this year to mark the Paralympics.