BHP warns staff of protest fear

BHP Billiton staff have been told to limit their movements in public today and hide anything that might identify their employer because of a safety risk from anti-uranium protesters.

The mining giant warned in an email to staff yesterday that a planned protest at Central Park today could spread to other BHP locations in Perth.

"Your safety and security is of our utmost concern," it read.

It urged staff to "be discreet displaying the BHP Billiton logo" on identity cards, clothing, bags and laptops. It said staff should also continue to keep a low profile in the lead-up to CHOGM.

They should question people not displaying correct identification at work and report tailgating and other "suspicious activity".

BHP spokeswoman Fiona Martin said the email was "an internal update to employees, whose safety is always our first concern".

But protest organiser Mia Pepper, from the Conservation Council of WA, said the warning was "ridiculous" and the protest against the company's planned Olympic Dam uranium mine expansion in South Australia and proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine in WA would be light-hearted.

"Even before a single action has been held, they are calling people rioters and violent," she said.

"The action is about the power that this corporation has. In no way would we ever be violent."

BHP's warning came as Colin Barnett stepped up his rhetoric against protesters in the lead-up to next week's CHOGM. Several protests are planned next week, including an anti-CHOGM rally on Friday.

The Premier said disruptive protesters would be "moved away" from the public areas.

"They will not be allowed to disrupt CHOGM or the enjoyment of public events, particularly the royal visit," he said. "I'm not going to comment on security other than to say they'll be moved on."

Police are preparing to serve orders on dozens of people and ban them from CHOGM events and venues.

Mr Barnett said authorities would not release publicly the names of people who would be banned.

Deputy Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said police were monitoring and working with protest groups and had "full contingencies".

"We've consistently said to all the groups, 'We live in a democracy and our role as police is to apply the law and apply it fairly'," he said.

"There is no law against protest per se. We just want to make sure that all persons participating in any activity at CHOGM next week do so in a lawful way and ways which don't harm the public."