The British Prime Minister has praised the Metropolitan Police for its "zero-tolerance" policy during the May Day protests in London, which passed off relatively peacefully.
Mr Blair telephoned the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, yesterday to say his officers had met "a very big challenge" and "passed it magnificently".
The Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, also praised the 6,000 officers who policed London during the demonstrations, which saw 92 people arrested, 14 of whom appeared in court yesterday on public disorder charges connected with the protest.
The shadow home secretary, Ms Ann Widdecombe, said Londoners were grateful to the police for their professional efforts in handling the May Day demonstration.
The estimated cost of policing the protest was put at £1 million while the cost to businesses in lost revenue was an estimated £20 million.
As shops and other commercial premises in Oxford Circus and surrounding streets began the clean-up operation after several windows were smashed by protesters, Londoners received the welcome news that a planned 24-hour strike on the Underground had been called off.
The RMT union, which represents a large number of station staff, was due to begin strike action at 8 p.m. yesterday in protest over safety and conditions, but abandoned it after talks with management.