"Half a million pounds to police this protest. Was it worth wasting taxpayers money ? "

A small amount compared to what it costs to police the "listening" station at Menwith Hill, for example. I know because my eldest son is one of the police who has to do it. By any comparison, the cost of policing the protest was money well-spent. Anyway, who was responsible for the need for a police presence - the protesters or the fascists?