A leading hospital is on alert to treat people injured in disorder expected in the City of London and during the G20 summit next week.

The Royal London Hospital, which treated many people after the July 2005 bombings, has been designated the frontline centre for casualties.

All police leave has been cancelled in London for the two days surrounding the summit, which will be accompanied by demonstrations by anti-war groups, environmentalists, anti-globalisation activists and anarchists.

The Metropolitan Police said it was concerned at the re-emergence of old faces and the prospect of activists travelling from overseas to join in a week of “unprecedented protest”.

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The East London unit is the closest main hospital to both the City, where demonstrations are planned for April 1, and the ExCeL centre, where the summit is taking place the next day.

London Ambulance Service said it would have “additional staff on duty to ensure we provide good cover” and that it was working closely with police.

The hospital refused to comment. The Metropolitan Police insisted it had made no direct request to the hospital to be on standby.

But a hospital source said: “There have been major discussions about next week and we are on alert to be the reception centre for the rapid removal of casualties. The Royal London is a centre of excellence for accident and emergency medicine and also has London’s only helicopter ambulance. We are preparing for this as we would for any major public event.”

Websites promoting the April Fool’s Day protests are urging people to storm buildings. One organiser, Chris Knight, a professor at the University of East London, has spoken of the possibility of attacks on City workers. City companies are telling staff, on police advice, to work from home where possible and not to wear suits if they have to go to their office.

About 2,500 police officers — many in riot gear — will be deployed in the Square Mile on April 1.

Sir Paul Stephenson, the Met Commissioner, said his force was facing “one of, if not the most, challenging and complex operations we have ever had to deal with.” He added: “I do believe we have the right expertise, but that expertise will be challenged. In terms of planned protests, the G20 is certainly attracting a significant amount of interest. There seems to be an unprecedented level of protests planned. We are seeing the return of some old faces we haven’t seen for some time, protest groups who see the G20 as an opportunity to galvanise support for their demonstrations.

“We may also see protest groups coming from countries involved in the G20 summit. We could see a different sort of protest in London from the sort we are used to. It adds to the difficult and challenging nature of the event.”

Public order policing will run side by side with the operation to protect 40 world leaders from terrorists. London will experience huge disruption, including road closures, checkpoints and public transport changes.

Commander Simon O’Brien, one of the officers behind the police plan for the week, said: “We will not tolerate any people breaking the law.”

Protesters and their plans

Climate Camp Activists of the type who recently invaded Stansted airport as well as mainstream environmentalists. Will be holding a camp in the City to encourage debate

Put People First Backs established charities. Rally in Hyde Park tomorrow will call for a green economy “built on decent work and fair play”

G20 Meltdown A loose alliance brought together by the Government of the Dead theatre troupe. Their “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” will converge on the Bank of England on April 1

People and Planet Hated the Royal Bank of Scotland before anyone else and campaigns against its investments in fossil fuels. Members will be outside the bank’s offices from April 1

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