Khan wedding will be a `scrum' predicts council

Nuptials / security fears

TUESDAY'S wedding of the Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan and Jemima, daughter of Sir James Goldsmith, may be the social pinnacle of the year, but it has sent shudders through Richmond council offices in south- west London.

The council, which runs Richmond Register Office where the couple will marry, fears chaos.

"Basically there's going to be a scrum. There's nothing we can do," said a spokesman for Richmond Council. "This has all the worst aspects of a royal wedding, but it is being regarded as a small family affair. There's going to be a cast of thousands."

With hundreds of well-wishers and the world's paparazzi expected, the police are setting up barricades so that Imran and Jemima do not have to fight their way to the altar.

The Metropolitan Police are prepared for the possibility that Islamic militants, objecting to Imran Khan marrying a half-Jewish girl, may seek to disrupt the ceremony. They are drafting in extra officers to police the area.

"There is a possibility of extreme Islamic groups trying something and that is something the police are aware of," said the council spokesman.

The police have discussed security with the registrar andcouncil workers. "We are there to prevent a breach of the peace. We wouldn't discuss how many officers are involved. We'll have as many as are required. We are concerned that there will be a large number of people and are there to minimise disruption."

The wedding is also expected to clog up local traffic and the council is poised for complaints from residents unable to park.

Imran and Jemima, who will wear a white day suit designed by royal dressmaker Bruce Oldfield for the ceremony, will stop for two photo calls as they enter and leave the register office.

The registrar has agreed to open up the register office's garden to photographers three hours before the 2pm ceremony.

Privately council officials criticised the Goldsmiths.

"The Goldsmith family are regarding it as a private family event, but we don't have the remit to make special arrangements. The register office isn't equipped for this kind of occasion. It's really for the Goldsmiths to manage the event. They are aware that it is going to generate an enormous amount of interest. If this is a family affair why are we getting involved?"

Last week a spokesman for Astra Communications, which handles public relations for the Goldsmith family, said: "I don't think any special arrangements are being made."