BRITISH police arrested more than 40 people as a massive security operation to deter troublemakers at the royal wedding passed off smoothly.
A police spokesman said 43 people had been detained throughout the day after more than 5000 officers were deployed to police the several hundred thousand people who flooded London to watch Prince William and Catherine Middleton marry.
Scotland Yard said the arrests were made "within and outside the event footprint'' and ranged from allegations of a sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, criminal damage and 25 breaches of the peace.
Police officers had lined the route carrying the royal couple to and from Westminster Abbey, with cheering crowds kept at a distance behind two sets of barriers several metres apart.
A large police presence could also be seen on rooftops near the wedding route, with snipers and spotters scanning the streets below with binoculars.
Police said two minor anti-wedding protests were broken up. Two separate protests in central London were "good-natured.''
Authorities had also banned 99 people from entering the City of Westminster while 24 people suspected of planning disruption were arrested on Thursday.
Friday's security operation was designed to head off the threats of a terror attack or trouble from anarchists who have hijacked recent London protests against austerity measures.
Originally published as Arrests as wedding passes smoothly