Met Police releases particulars for ‘important’ operation throughout Remembrance weekend

Nov 10, 2023 at 5:57 PM

More than 2,000 officers from the Metropolitan Police and different UK forces will likely be on responsibility for a “significant” operation throughout Remembrance weekend.

The Met says its plan covers each Armistice and Remembrance occasions in addition to a major march by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

A political row erupted this week over feedback made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who criticised the Met over its determination to permit the pro-Palestine protests to go forward.

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After assembly the Met commissioner, the prime minister stated he’ll maintain the power accountable for allowing the demonstrations to go ahead.

In a prolonged assertion, the power stated: “We know the cumulative impact continued protest, increasing tensions, and rising hate crimes are having across London and the fear and anxiety our Jewish communities, in particular, are feeling.

“They have a proper to really feel protected of their metropolis, realizing they will journey throughout London with out feeling afraid of intimidation or harassment.

“We’ll be using an extensive set of powers to prevent any disruption whatsoever to Remembrance events, policing the demonstration as it passes through parts of the capital, while protecting our communities from those intent on inciting hate, violence and disorder.”

The police have arrange exclusion zones masking the Cenotaph, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance and different related areas.

They say “anyone believed to be part of, or associated with, the pro-Palestinian demonstration trying to assemble in this area can be arrested”.

The Met has detailed the powers will probably be exercising over the weekend, placing exclusion zones in place in Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, the Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance and different related areas, including anybody on the pro-Palestinian march in these areas will likely be arrested.

The Cenotaph could have a 24-hour police presence, the Met added.

Read extra:
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Officers may even insist individuals marching persist with the pre-agreed routes and don’t enter the US and Israeli embassies.

There may even be dispersal zones in Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, and officers could have cease and search powers in areas round Westminster, and elements of Wandsworth and Lambeth.

Sky’s crime correspondent Martin Brunt stated most important protest organisers have already agreed that demonstrators don’t intend to go wherever close to these areas and can persist with a chosen marching route from Hyde Park throughout the River Thames to the US Embassy.

There may even be interventions for individuals planning car convoys by means of Jewish areas of London, with the Met saying specialist officers will likely be in these areas, and other people committing offences will likely be arrested.

Elsewhere, police will monitor intimidation of poppy sellers, with the Met saying there have been issues raised over their security within the final week.

“Alongside our colleagues at the British Transport Police we have been clear no intimidation of those who so generously give up their time for this treasured national cause will be tolerated” the power stated.

“Officers know the risk felt by sellers and should be sought out by anyone concerned throughout the weekend.”

The Metropolitan Police added: “Each week we’ve developed our tactics to more quickly deal with anyone committing crime locally in our communities and at significant events.

“Our operation covers each component of this weekend and can proceed to develop as we collect intelligence and be taught of latest points.”

The stringent measures aren’t any shock

The police measures come as no shock – plenty of cops, exclusion zones and a strict time restrict.

It’s all aimed toward stopping breakaway teams from shifting off and inflicting hassle away from the primary protest.

The march organisers have already agreed to not conflict with Armistice Day ceremonies round iconic websites such because the Cenotaph and different warfare memorials.

But police consider the most important menace of dysfunction comes from these planning counter demonstrations, particularly far-right teams who’ve issued rallying calls for his or her supporters to fulfill in central London.

Over the previous 4 weeks of protests the Met, underneath early widespread criticism, elevated its arrest price and says the brand new restrictions will allow officers to maneuver sooner and extra robustly in opposition to troublemakers.

The commissioner Sir Mark Rowley believes he can cope and, anyway, doesn’t have intelligence of a menace of significant public dysfunction that might allow him to ask for a whole ban on the march.

His job will not be on the road, however the fame of him and his power, after a troubled two years, definitely is.