Britain's top cop says policing the expected protests during Donald Trump's UK visit will be a challenge.
Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe admits protests could be much bigger than the spontaneous but peaceful march by 20,000 anti-Trump demonstrators who descended on Downing Street and blocked Whitehall last week.
He said: "We have two or three state visits a year and there can often be a political issue in that country and we have to adapt to that. We have a lot of experience in dealing with that.
"It demands a lot of planning. It requires a lot of officers getting involved. But that's the nature of our job.
"In a democracy a head of state from another country should be able to visit and carry out their meetings with our government.
"It's our job to keep them safe and make sure everybody has their opportunity to protest should they want to.
"You get various challenging ones but I'm sure it will be fine and I wish my successor luck in dealing with that and I'll be thinking of them."
In an interview ahead of his retirement this month, Sir Bernard also urged the Government's Brexit negotiators to find a quick replacement for the European Arrest Warrant (EAW).
The EAW virtually guarantees the swift extradition of fugitives arrested in other EU countries, but the system is expected to be scrapped when the UK leaves the union.
He said: "I'm sure that whatever happens in the future a similar system will have to arise and the main reason is called 'shared interest', so the French don't want their rapists to come over here and get away with things, nor do we want our burglars to go to France and get away with their burglaries.
"I'm sure something will be put in place, but I suspect the bureaucracy and administration to organise that will take a lot of time."
Sir Bernard retires in two weeks' time after more than five years running the Metropolitan Police.
Applicants for his job are being interviewed this week.
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