London mayor requires ‘pressing readability’ from Met over policing of coronation protests
London mayor Sadiq Khan has known as for “urgent clarity” from the Metropolitan Police over the power’s remedy of protesters in the course of the coronation on Saturday.
A complete of 64 individuals had been arrested across the coronation – together with 13 individuals to “prevent a breach of the peace”, and a person with an unused megaphone, who police mentioned might “scare the horses”.
The Metropolitan Police mentioned on Sunday night time that 4 individuals had been charged – two for drug offences, one for disorderly conduct, and one charged with a religiously aggravated offence.
Of the others, one was arrested on a warrant for non-payment of fines and stays in police custody. The remaining individuals had been both launched on police bail or freed with out additional cost.
There have been experiences volunteers who were handing out rape alarms to maintain ladies secure within the early hours of Saturday morning had been additionally taken into custody.
It isn’t clear whether or not these had been a part of the figures launched by the police.
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Met Police commander Karen Findlay defended the power’s motion in the course of the coronation, saying they policed “proportionately” and inside the “context” of the large-scale occasion.
But Mr Khan – who has oversight of the power as mayor – mentioned among the arrests “raise questions”, including: “Whilst investigations are ongoing, I’ve sought urgent clarity from Met leaders on the action taken.”
Anti-monarchy marketing campaign group Republic mentioned numerous their group had been arrested “as we prepared for a peaceful and lawful protest”, they usually had been “detained for the rest of the day”.
The group’s chief, Graham Smith – who was arrested himself – launched a press release on Sunday saying: “These arrests are a direct assault on our democracy and the basic rights of each individual within the nation.
Republic chief on coronation arrests
“The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists. Instead we have a freedom to protest that is contingent on political decisions made by ministers and senior police officers.”
Westminster MPs have additionally questioned the police’s selections on the day.
‘Tory laws may very well be accountable’
Liberal Democrats deputy chief Daisy Cooper instructed Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday she had “concerns” the power didn’t get the steadiness proper when it got here to making sure the occasion went forward safely whereas permitting peaceable protest.
“Whether you are royalist or whether you are republican, we should all be able to agree on free speech and the right to protest,” she added.
Ms Cooper mentioned new laws brought in by the Conservative government days ahead of the coronation, which give police extra energy to sort out disruptive protests, may very well be accountable.
The laws carries as much as a 12 months in jail for demonstrators blocking roads, airports and railways, and lets officers cease and search anybody they believe is planning to trigger disruption.
The Lib Dem MP mentioned the “far ranging, sweeping powers” would have “a real kind of chilling effect on the right to peaceful protest”.
While it was not but clear if the measures had been utilized by police on Saturday, it wanted to be investigated, she added.
Deputy chief of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper
Met urged to supply ‘accountability’
Labour’s Wes Streeting additionally known as for the power to supply “accountability” over the considerations which were raised about its coronation operation.
The shadow well being secretary instructed Sophy Ridge: “I think it’s the accountability that’s important.
“Where considerations have been raised, whether or not that is by Republic, the marketing campaign for an elected head of state, or individuals extra usually simply involved about what they’ve learn within the papers or seen on the telly, it is necessary that the police present that accountability.”
Police ‘accountability’ is ‘necessary’
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer mentioned police needed to “balance the right to protest, which is important in a democracy” with the suitable of different individuals “to enjoy what was a fabulous day”.
“Overall, they managed to get that balance right,” she added.
The minister additionally defended the brand new legal guidelines, saying she had “huge confidence” within the police and trusted them to make use of the brand new powers.
‘I’ve large confidence within the police’
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Her Tory colleague, deputy occasion chairman and MP Lee Anderson, went additional, nevertheless.
In a tweet on Saturday, he attacked protesters going to the coronation, saying: “Not My King? If you do not wish to live in a country that has a monarchy the solution is not to turn up with your silly boards. The solution is to emigrate.”
Senior Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant later tweeted: “Freedom of speech is the silver thread that runs through a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.”
‘Proportionate’ policing
Met commander Findlay mentioned the power “absolutely understands public concern following the arrests”.
But she mentioned it was their “duty” to police protests “in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation”.
The senior officer additionally mentioned context was necessary, including: “The coronation is a once-in-a-generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment.”
And she insisted a protest “involving large numbers” went forward “with police knowledge and no intervention”.