Sir Mark Rowley has defended his officers after six anti-monarchy protesters were arrested and detained for sixteen hours.
The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said it was unfortunate those arrested could not protest, but supported the actions of his officers.
Sir Mark also said the Met had had growing concerns that protesters would use rape alarms, lock-on devices, loudhailers, and vandalise monuments during the procession.
64 people were arrested running up to the Coronation, with 52 of these related to concerns over people looking to disrupt the event. While four people have been charged, the six anti-monarchy protesters including leader Graham Smith were released without charge.
They were arrested under the government’s new Public Order Act 2023. This Act has been brought in to counter the growing trend of climate change protesters forming human chains or using hardware to chain themselves to something, thereby causing a disruption.
As has been stated in previous articles, the Homeland Party advocates for and supports the right to protest. However, we are concerned that this Act is loosely worded enough to allow the Police to interpret it however they see fit.
Removing a dozen people who are blocking the M25 motorway is good, but this Act does allow scope for the Police to arrest people for cable-tying a banner to a bridge, for example, as under the new guidelines this could be interpreted by the officer as causing a serious disruption!
The Act also states that it will be an offence to carry outside of your home “an object used for locking on”. This could see an activist be arrested for having a banner and some cable ties, or even just cable ties on their person.
The Homeland Party will eagerly point out new laws and acts which have the flexibility to be abused. We will never tolerate a “one rule for one, one rule for another” approach.
