A FORMER deputy chief constable has condemned the police handling of protests outside the Conservative Party conference, after being abused by protestors at close quarters, while other delegates were attacked.

Peter Walker, who retired from North Yorkshire Police in 2003, said delegates and numerous charity officials suffered "contemptible behaviour" as the Greater Manchester force permitted demonstrators to get amongst conference attendees outside the venue.

He said three serious incidents developed as anti-austerity campaigners surrounded the Midland Hotel, which included demonstrators taking control of the street outside the venue and subjecting conference attendees to obscene remarks, intimidation and jostling.

Mr Walker, who runs a construction training business in Thirsk, said: "People were in your face, spitting, telling one woman 'you'll get raped' and left, among others, an elderly North Yorkshire couple really shaken.

"Police would not have let Manchester United and Manchester City fans even in the same street on a derby day.

"Public order legislation includes a number of offences relating to those who cause alarm, harassment or distress and were committed on many occasions over the past few days."

He said recent previous conferences had not seen a chance for protestors to get among delegates and that police should have used cordons or barriers to prevent the incidents.

He said: "By any assessment, the tactical approach taken by Greater Manchester Police towards the conference was sadly lacking.

"It was a thoroughly unpleasant experience for the attendees and a policing operation that lacked direction, control and professionalism."

Chief Superintendent John O’Hare, of Greater Manchester Police, said the conference had involved an "incredibly complex security operation" that had been the most challenging the force had seen in a decade, alongside the largest ever demonstration in the city.

He said: “We have worked closely with the Conservative Party and continually reviewed our operation throughout the conference to seek the right balance to facilitate people’s right to free speech and legitimate protest.”