LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) – Anti-monarchists on Sunday criticised the policing of the coronation of King Charles as heavy-handed, saying there was now not a proper to peaceable protest in Britain after dozens of protesters had been arrested and detained into the night time.
Police arrested Graham Smith, chief of the Republic group, and dozens others in central London as 1000’s of royal followers gathered within the capital for the occasion on Saturday, saying their responsibility to forestall disruption outweighed the correct to protest.
Republic mentioned that members started to be launched late on Saturday night after almost 16 hours in custody.
“This was a heavy-handed action which had the appearance of a pre-determined arrest that would have occurred regardless of the evidence or our actions. The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists,” Smith mentioned in an announcement.
“These arrests were not about protecting people from harm, but about protecting the King from embarrassment.”
London’s Metropolitan Police mentioned on Sunday night time that 64 arrests in whole had been made on Saturday for offences together with breach of the peace and conspiracy to trigger a public nuisance.
One had been charged beneath the general public order act, whereas others had been launched on bail.
The police mentioned on Saturday that they understood public concern following the arrests, however mentioned they acted after receiving data that protesters had been decided to disrupt the coronation procession.
London police chief Mark Rowley warned on Friday that police would take motion if protesters tried to “obstruct the enjoyment and celebration” of individuals, saying there can be a “very low tolerance” for disruption.
Police have gained additional powers to curtail protests beneath a brand new policing legislation handed final yr, and a public order act which got here into pressure on May 3.
In a separate incident, there was a dispute after police arrested three individuals on Saturday morning and seized a lot of rape alarms. The police cited intelligence that there have been plans to disrupt the procession with the alarms, however the native Westminster Council expressed concern that skilled volunteers for an evening security scheme had been detained.
“We are deeply concerned by reports of our Night Stars volunteers being arrested overnight,” native councillor Aicha Less mentioned, including the volunteers had been being provided assist.
“We are working with the Metropolitan Police to establish exactly what happened.”
Wes Streeting, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Labour Party, declined to touch upon particular arrests whereas investigations had been ongoing, however mentioned London’s police must be accountable as as to if their general strategy to the coronation was proportionate.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals turned out to catch a glimpse of the newly topped King Charles and Queen Camilla, who rode in a state coach again to Buckingham Palace after Saturday’s service at Westminster Abbey.
Not everybody who got here to observe was there to cheer Charles, with lots of of republicans booing and waving banners studying “Not My King”.
Culture Minister Lucy Frazer mentioned she had enormous confidence within the police and added that they had been proper to take a more durable line on an occasion that would have raised questions on nationwide safety.
“I think overall (the police) managed to get that balance right,” Frazer advised Sky News.
Reporting by Alistair Smout
Editing by Frances Kerry
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