London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, May 28, 2023

Met chief Mark Rowley defends officers over Coronation arrests

Met chief Mark Rowley defends officers over Coronation arrests

The head of the Metropolitan Police has defended the policing of the Coronation after six anti-monarchy protesters were arrested, detained for hours and then released without charge.

Sir Mark Rowley said it was unfortunate those arrested could not protest, but he supported the officers' actions.

He said there had been a "concerning" threat to the Coronation.

People purporting to be stewards had white paint they wanted to throw to disrupt the procession, he said.

Sir Mark also said the Met had had growing concerns that protesters would use rape alarms, possible lock-on devices, loud hailers and vandalise monuments during the procession.

"Clearly, this would not only have been unlawful, but also extremely dangerous," he wrote in the Evening Standard newspaper.

A group of six anti-monarchy protesters, including the chief executive of anti-monarchy group Republic, Graham Smith, was arrested on the day of King Charles III's coronation under a controversial new law, the Public Order Act 2023.

They were held for almost 16 hours, later bailed and told on Monday that no further action would be taken against them.

Three women's safety volunteers who were arrested have also been released without charge.

Westminster City Council said in a statement on Tuesday evening that it had requested an apology from the police to the Night Star volunteers, who hand out rape alarms, and would continue to work with the force "to learn from this unfortunate incident".

Addressing the six anti-monarchy arrests in his newspaper article, Sir Mark said: "While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protestors, I support the officers' actions in this unique fast-moving operational context." 

Mr Smith has said he is considering legal action over the arrests, which he said followed four months of conversations with the Met about Republic's protest plans.

In total, 64 people were arrested in London during the Coronation policing operation. Police said 52 of these related to concerns people were going to disrupt the event. Four people have so far been charged.

Recent changes to the Public Order Act, passed just days before the Coronation week, make it illegal to prepare to lock-on - when a person attaches themselves to an object so they cannot be moved.

The Met expressed "regret" on Sunday evening after it found there had been no proof the six protesters with Republic had been planning to use "lock on" devices (equipment to attach themselves to objects), as had been claimed.

It said the six had had their bail cancelled and no further action would be taken.

Matt Turnbull of Republic, who was one of those held, said: "It is a concerning thing for everyone for the police to be able to determine that you may be about to commit a crime when there is no evidence of that to be had."

Former cabinet minister David Davis - who had been the only Conservative MP to vote against the changes to the law - told the Today programme the new law was "too crude and too broadly defined".

Speaking later in the House of Commons, Mr Davis pointed out that "within one week of the Public Order Bill entering the law", the Met had had to "apologise" over arrests.

SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who tabled an urgent question on the policing of protests at the Coronation, called for further investigation into the arrests and asked whether political pressure had brought to bear on the police.

In response, Policing Minister Chris Philp defended the police's actions, telling the Commons that "at the point the arrest was made, the police reasonably believed there were grounds to do so".

Mr Philp said hundreds of people had peacefully protested against the monarchy, adding that anyone unhappy with their arrest could make a complaint.

Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson, who chairs the Home Affairs Committee, said the committee would "no doubt" want to look at the use of the new law in the policing of Coronation protests.


What is the 2023 Public Order Act?


The 2023 Public Order Act is the government's second major piece of legislation changing protest laws in under two years.

In 2022 MPs voted to place greater restrictions on public processions if they are too noisy.

The new act goes further:

• Protesters who interfere with "key national infrastructure" including roads and railways can face 12 months in jail.

• Anyone who fixes themselves to an object or building to create an immovable obstacle, a tactic known as "locking on", could be jailed for six months.

• The law bans protesters from committing acts of "serious disruption" - meaning demonstrations which prevent people going about their day-to-day activities.

• Other new offences include up to three years in jail for tunnelling as part of a protest. Police will also have new powers to search people for super-glues and padlocks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the new legislation, telling broadcasters: "What the government has done is give the police the powers that they need to tackle instances of serious disruption to people's lives.

"I think that is the right thing to do and the police will make decisions on when they use those powers."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said arrests at protests were a "difficult judgment call" for police but that "we need to protect legitimate protests".

However, Sir Keir refused to say that his party would scrap the Public Order Act, telling the BBC the law had not "bedded in yet" and that it was important to balance protecting peaceful protest with the need to police disruptive action.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he has requested "further clarity" from Scotland Yard, saying the right to peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy.

Liberty, a campaign group which defends civil liberties, said the government had "rushed through" the Public Order Act ahead of the Coronation.

Sam Grant, advocacy director at the organisation, called for the Public Order Act to be repealed.

He said the police had been "overzealous" in using their "broad and poorly defined" powers - "with serious consequences for people's freedom of expression."

He added: "We should all be very worried about the impact this will have on our right to make our voices heard on the issues that matter to us."

Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
Close
0:00
0:00
Pfizer, the EU, and disappearing ink - Smoke, Mirrors, and the Billion-Dose Pfizer Vaccine Deal: EU's 'Open Secret
You Are So Beautiful
Actor Tom Hanks told Harvard University graduates to be superheroes in their defense of truth and American ideals, and to resist those who twist the truth for their own gain
Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
The Sussexes' Royal Rebound: Could Harry and Meghan Markle Return to the UK?
An old French tune (by Georges Brassens) Pomplamoose ft. John Schroeder
A provocative study suggests: Left-Wing Extremism and its Unsettling Connection to Psychopathy and Narcissism
Sattahip Motor Show 20
France Arrests 10 on Suspicion of Failing to Respond in Time to Migrant Drowning
SONATE AU CLAIR DE LUNE - Moonlight sonata
Neuralink Receives FDA Approval for First-in-Human Clinical Study
A kiss to build a dream on
Ukrainian Intelligence Official Admits to Assassination Attempts on Putin
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
WATCH THIS: democracy in Russia is so bad!
Mean Blues
Ed Davey: It is possible for a woman to have a penis
La Chansonnette
Bernard Arnault Loses $11.2 Billion in One Day as Investors Fear Slowdown in US Growth Will Reduce Demand for Luxury Products
Pattaya Addicts
Russian’s Wagner Group leader: “I am not a chef, I am a butcher. Russia is in danger of a revolution like in 1917.”
Franz Liszt - Liebestraum - Love Dream
TikTok Sues Montana Over Law Banning the App
Dream a little dream of me
Ron DeSantis Jumps Into 2024 Presidential Race, Setting Up Showdown With Trump
Unchained Melody sung like you've NEVER heard!
Steve Jobs introducing Apple's iPhone, exactly 16 years ago.
Dave Brubeck - Take Five
Banking Behemoth vs Ex-Boss: The PMorgan-Epstein Entanglement
Édith Piaf - Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (Sofie)
China overtakes Japan as world's top car exporter
Rondo Alla Turca
Banking Behemoth vs Ex-Boss: The PMorgan-Epstein Entanglement
Kiss of fire
Elon Musk's SpaceX and Italy's Unipol join forces to help Italians hit by flooding
Tom Jones - I´ll Never Fall In Love Again 1967, 1989, 2001
Talks between US House Republicans and President Biden's Democratic administration on raising the federal government's $31.4tn debt ceiling have paused
Israel Cachao López - Guajira Clásica
Biden Administration Eyeing High-Profile Visits to China: The Biden Administration is heating things up by looking into setting up a series of top-level visits to Beijing by top officials in the coming months
Edward Maya - Stereo Love (feat. Vika Jigulina) (Extended Mix)
New evidence in special counsel probe may undercut Trump’s claim documents he took were automatically declassified
Strauss - Radetzky March - Karajan
A French court of appeals confirmed former President Nicolas Sarkozy's three-year jail term for corruption and influence peddling
La vie en rose
Debt Ceiling Crises Have Unleashed Political Chaos
The Temptations - My Girl (Smokey Robinson Tribute) 2006 Kennedy Cent
Weibao Wang, a former software engineer at Apple, was charged with stealing trade secrets related to autonomous systems, including self-driving cars
Orlando Cachaito Lopez Redencion
Mobile phone giant Vodafone to cut 11,000 jobs globally over three years as new boss says its performance not good enough
Edith Piaf - NON, JE NE REGRETTE RIEN
Elon Musk compares George Soros to Magneto, the supervillain from the Marvel Comics series.
RADETZKY MARCH-2008-Wien, New Year Concert
Warren Buffett Sells TSMC Shares Over Concerns About Taiwan's Stability
Only you (And you alone)
New Study Finds That Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia Is a Major Cause of Death in COVID-19 Patients Who Require Ventilator Assistance
Strangers In The Night
Vienna: Passenger Plays Hitler Speeches on Train, Causes Panic
Charles Aznavour - La Boheme
Remarkable video from our Fox drone team
Summer time
The official tapes of Trump's deposition in the E. Jean Carroll battery (rape) and defamation case have been released.
Sting and Stevie Wonder - Fragile (from Sting's 60th birthday concert)
Here is the full video that the media are purposely not sharing
Aux Champs Elysees
King Charles III being crowned.
Stand By Me - Ben E. King (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Newly released video of Donald Trump’s rape trial deposition:
La Mer (Beyond the Sea) – Avalon Jazz Band
Video: Ukraine MP Punches Russian Representative At Global Meet
She
Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Kremlin with drones in an attempt to kill Putin
Nathalie Song by Enzo Petrachi Stjepan Hauser Cello
Ahead of King Charles’ coronation, British guards rehearse in the middle of the night in London
Shape of My Heart - Sting (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Dutch court orders man who fathered 550 kids to stop donating sperm
Radiohead - Creep
Kim Kardashian Lookalike Christina Ashten Dies Of Cardiac Arrest, Hours After Plastic Surgery
Quizás,Quizás,Quizás - Andrea Bocelli - Jennifer Lopez
Samsung has banned employees from using generative AI services such as ChatGPT
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Multi-Couples
'Godfather Of AI' Geoffrey Hinton Quits Google To Warn Of The Tech's Dangers
Pentatonix Havana
A Real woman
Paula Cole - Autumn Leaves
This Should Go Viral
Oscar Benton Bensonhurst Blues
Vermont Man Charged with Stalking After Secretly Tracking Woman with Apple AirTag
OH NANANA vs ABUSADAMENTE
Elon Musk Statements About Tesla Autopilot Could Be 'Deepfakes,' Lawyers Claim. Judge Evette Pennypacker Does Not Understand How Far and Advanced This Technology Became
Nina Simone - ”I Put A Spell On You”. Vezi aici cum cântă Jeremy Ragsd
Ukraine More Prepared for Counterattack as Reinforcements Arrive
NIGHTWISH - The Phantom Of The Opera
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Discuss Migration, Defence, and Ukraine
Motorshow 2016 Tanjay Negros Oriental
Tucker Carlson is back, soon!
Monica Bellucci - Ti Amo
AT&T's Successful Test of Satellite-Based Phone Call Raises Possibility of Widespread Coverage
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean Milena The Voice France 2018
CNN: "Joe Biden is asking for four more years — when 74% of Americans think the country is heading the wrong way“
Michael Buble (Help Me Make It Through The Night) feat Loren Allred
Memories Canon In D - Maroon 5 (Boyce Avenue piano acoustic cover)
Matteo Simoni - Marina
Maroon 5 - One More Night
Maroon 5 - Memories
Mark Knopfler - Brothers In Arms (Berlin 2007 Live)
Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - Romeo And Juliet (Real Live Roadrunni
Marina, Marina - The LUCKY DUCKIES intimist live concert at Guimarães
Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On Mauranne The Voice France 2016
Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet - Joslin - Henri Mancini, Nino Rota
LoLa & Hauser - Love Story
Linkin Park Jay-Z - Numb Encore (Live 8 2005)
Hallelujah Mennel Ibtissem, The Voice France Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love
Leonard Cohen & Natasha Rostova - Dance me to the end of love
La casa de papel - Bella Ciao
La Camisa Negra
L'italiano (Toto Cutugno) - The Gypsy Queens
Juanes - La Camisa Negra
Jonathan and Charlotte - Britain's Got Talent 2012 Live Semi Final - U
John Powell - Assassin's Tango
Joe Cocker - You Can Leave Your Hat On (LIVE in Dortmund)
Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart 2002 Live
Joe Cocker - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Jay Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind LIVE
Jason Mraz - Im Yours (live)
Jarrod Radnich - Bohemian Rhapsody - Virtuosic Piano Solo
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
James Blunt - You're Beautiful & Bonfire Heart (Live at The Nobel Peac)
If You Go Away - Helen Merrill & Stan Getz (Tribute to Virna Lisi)
I'LL BE MISSING YOU
I Say a Little Prayer
Hotel California ( Eagles ) 1994 Live
Historia de un amor - Luz Casal. Vezi interpretarea Biancăi Sumanariu
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover) on Spot
Heart - Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin - Kennedy Center Honors
HAVANA by Camila Cabello Zumba Pre Cooldown TML Crew Kramer Pastra
HAUSER and Señorita - I Will Always Love You
HAUSER - Waka Waka
HAUSER - Sway
HAUSER - Lambada
HAUSER - Historia de un Amor
HAUSER - Despacito
Great Pretender
Georgia May Foote & Giovanni Pernice Samba to 'Volare' - Strictly Come
Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues
GIPSY KINGS VOLARE Penelope Cruz
Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song
French Latino - Historia de un Amor
For A Few Dollars More The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Live)
Flashdance • What a Feeling • Irene Cara
Filip Rudan - “Someone You Loved” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sez
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
Enya - Only Time
Enrique Iglesias - Bailando (English Version) ft. Sean Paul
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos
Elena Yerevan Historia de un amor
Ed Sheeran - Shape of You (Official Music Video)
Ed Sheeran - Perfect Symphony [with Andrea Bocelli]
Ed Sheeran - Perfect (Official Music Video)
Easy On Me - Adele (Boyce Avenue 90’s style piano acoustic cover) on S
ERA - Ameno
ELENA YEREVAN- Cancion Del Mariachi-IN STUDIO-2017 DPR
Dust In The Wind - Kansas (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Despacito x Shape Of You - Pentatonix
Deep Purple - Child In Time - Live (1970)
David Foster When A Man Loves A WomanIt's A Mans World (SealMichael Bo
Dance me to the end of Love ( Pi-Air Design )
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.) [Official Music Video]
Conquest Of Paradise (Vangelis), played on Böhm Emporio organ
Cielito Lindo
Chico & The Gypsies - Bamboleo
Canción Del Mariachi - Antonio Banderas, Los Lobos • Desperado
Camila Cabello - Havana (Audio) ft. Young Thug
Camila Cabello - Havana ( cover by J.Fla )
California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas José Feliciano (Boyce Ave
Buster Benton - Money Is The Name of The Game
Hallelujah Pentatonix
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy (Official Music Video)
Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door Emilia The Voice Kids France
Besame Mucho - Cesaria Evora
Ben E. King - Stand by Me Sax Cover Alexandra Ilieva Thomann
Bella Ciao
Bella Ciao - INSTRUMENTAL
Beautiful in White x Canon in D (Piano Cover by Riyandi Kusuma)
Bad Romance - Vintage 1920's Gatsby Style Lady Gaga Cover ft. Ariana Savalas & Sarah Reich(1)
BELLA CIAO 2020 - KARAOKE ITALIANO
BAMBOLEO - Gipsy Kings • Antonio Banderas, Katya Virshilas
BAILANDO (original)
Awesome Ukrainian yodeler - SOFIA SHKIDCHENKO (with English subtitles)
Avicii - The Nights
Atom - The Great Gig in the Sky
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Official Ly
Antonio Banderas - Cancion del Mariachi (Desperado)
André Rieu - Zorba's Dance (Sirtaki)
André Rieu - Can't Help Falling In Love
André Rieu & Mirusia - Ave Maria
Andrew Reyes Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down The Voice 2020 (
Andreas Kümmert Whiter Shade Of Pale The Voice of Germany 2013 Showd
And I Love You So
All About That Bass - Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
Alan Walker - Faded (Piano Cover)
Ain't No Sunshine -- Bill Withers (cover by Canen 12 y.o.)
African music
Adriana Vidović - “Creep” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
Adriana Vidović - “Believer” Nokaut 3 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
A Fistful of Dollars - The Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Tuva
4 Beautiful Soundtracks Relaxing Piano [10min]
2CELLOS - Whole Lotta Love vs. Beethoven 5th Symphony [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
2CELLOS - Smooth Criminal (Live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo)
2CELLOS - Smells Like Teen Spirit [Live at Sydney Opera House]
2CELLOS - Despacito [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
13 Year Old Girl Playing Il Silenzio (The Silence) - André Rieu
094.All About That Bass
00 - SADNESS PART 1
(Ghost) Riders In the Sky (American Outlaws Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams (Boyce Avenue ft. Conn
What a wonderful world
Moon river
×