Met chief defends coronation arrests despite heavy criticism

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Britain’s highest-ranking police officer has defended the arrest of six anti-monarchy protesters and hit out at ill-informed comments amid fierce criticism of the action taken.

Writing for the Evening Standard, Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley said it was unfortunate protesters were unable to join other activists on Saturday after being detained.

The six were the first arrests to be made under the sweeping Public Order Act, believed to be equipped to lock down a measure protesters use to make it harder for police to move them.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the new powers, which came into force last week, saying it was right for officers to have the power to deal with severe disruption.

Sir Mark wrote in the Standard: While it is regrettable that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protesters, I support the officers’ actions in this unique and rapidly changing operating environment.

The six Republic activists were arrested early Saturday morning and detained for 16 hours.

They were released without charge after police admitted it was not possible to prove whether the protesters intended to lock themselves in.

Republics chief executive Graham Smith, who was among those arrested, is considering legal action against the Met after officers personally apologized to him for what he called a disgraceful episode.

He said three rather embarrassed officers apologized to him at his home in Reading, Berkshire, before returning the straps of the placards for which they arrested him.

I said for the record that I will not accept apologies. We have a lot of questions to answer and we will take action, he told the PA news agency.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to Southampton: Of course people have the right to protest freely but peacefully, but it is also right that people have the opportunity to go about their daily lives without suffering serious harm. disturbances.

What the government has done is give the police the powers they need to deal with cases of serious disruption to people’s lives.

I think it’s the right thing to do and the police will decide when they use those powers.

The police and the Home Office need to understand exactly how they are protecting our democratic rights while protecting the day of thousands of people

David Davis, former Brexit secretary

A total of 64 people were arrested over the weekend, 52 of whom feared police were disrupting the coronation.

Sir Mark said it was frustrating that the force could not share more information about some of the arrests while investigations continue.

He said: I can report that we found people in possession of possible lockout devices and people who appeared to be claiming to be event stewards in possession of plastic bottles containing white paint, which we believe , were to be specifically used for criminal purposes. disrupt the motorcade and resulted in arrests for going equipped to commit criminal damage.

Much of the day’s misinformed commentary is completely inaccurate, for example, the protest was not banned.

I want to make it absolutely clear that our activity targeted those who we believe intended to cause serious disruption and crime.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked for further information on why the Republic supporters were arrested, as well as volunteers from the Night Star charity, which distributes rape scares.

Former Greater Manchester Police Chief Sir Peter Fahy said the Public Order Act used to detain protesters was grossly ill-defined and far too broad.

Senior Tory MP David Davis called the legislation too crude and urged the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee to investigate.

Sir Peter told BBC Radio 4s Today: “We see the consequences of this, especially for the poor police who have to try to make sense of the legislation which was passed only days ago.

It could affect all sorts of different protests in your local community, when you are unhappy with HS2 or a housing estate or whatever, this legislation could be used against you and the police would be under pressure.

Mr Davis, a former Brexit secretary, said the arrests show the legislation is too crude, too ill-defined.

The police and Home Office need to understand exactly how they are protecting our democratic rights while protecting the day of thousands of people, he told Today.

The whole law is defined really very broadly. This is also true for stop and search powers. There is a whole series of elements of law that are simply too broadly defined.

Downing Street has made it clear it believes the new powers are appropriate and in line with public wishes.

It would not be fair to judge an entire bill on the basis of a single example, the prime minister’s official spokesman said.

He said the Home Office had conversations as usual with the Met ahead of the police operation, after the Republic demanded to know whether officers were acting at the behest of politicians.

Interior Minister Suella Braverman attended several meetings with the Metropolitan Police ahead of the coronation, the Palestinian Authority news agency has learned.

A Whitehall source described them as routine updates on the forces’ expectations and preparations for the operation, stressing that the police remain operationally independent.

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