POLICE have decided to step up security surrounding the Liberal Democrat conference in Birmingham following the riots.

An extra cordon will be thrown around the Hyatt Hotel during the five-day conference, running from September 17 to 21, amid fears of public disorder.

But police stressed that security threat remains officially ‘low’.

Ch Insp John Rayne said: “We were not going to put up a fence around the Hyatt. But after the events of three weeks ago we will be using the fencing as a precaution.”

The major cause for concern is political demonstrations – with anything from 10,000 to 30,000 people expected to take part in the trade union organised March for the Alternative 2 on Sunday, September 18.

With 8,000 Liberal Democrats, plus the 1,600 representatives of the world’s political media due to arrive, the city economy is expecting a £12 million windfall from hosting its fifth major policital conference.