London mayor Sadiq Khan has referred to as for “urgent clarity” from the Metropolitan Police over the power’s remedy of protesters throughout the coronation on Saturday.
A complete of 64 folks have been arrested across the coronation – together with 13 folks to “prevent a breach of the peace”, and a person with an unused megaphone, who police mentioned might “scare the horses”.
The Metropolitan Police mentioned on Sunday night time that 4 folks had been charged – two for drug offences, one for disorderly conduct, and one charged with a religiously aggravated offence.
Of the others, one was arrested on a warrant for non-payment of fines and stays in police custody. The remaining folks have been both launched on police bail or freed with out additional cost.
There have been experiences volunteers who have been handing out rape alarms to maintain ladies secure within the early hours of Saturday morning have been additionally taken into custody.
It isn’t clear whether or not these have been a part of the figures launched by the police.
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Met Police commander Karen Findlay defended the power’s motion throughout the coronation, saying they policed “proportionately” and throughout the “context” of the large-scale occasion.
But Mr Khan – who has oversight of the power as mayor – mentioned a number of the arrests “raise questions”, including: “Whilst investigations are ongoing, I’ve sought urgent clarity from Met leaders on the action taken.”
Anti-monarchy marketing campaign group Republic mentioned a variety of their crew have been arrested “as we prepared for a peaceful and lawful protest”, and so they have been “detained for the rest of the day”.
The group’s chief, Graham Smith – who was arrested himself – launched an announcement on Sunday saying: “These arrests are a direct assault on our democracy and the elemental rights of each particular person within the nation.
“The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists. Instead we have a freedom to protest that is contingent on political decisions made by ministers and senior police officers.”
Westminster MPs have additionally questioned the police’s choices on the day.
‘Tory laws may very well be responsible’
Liberal Democrats deputy chief Daisy Cooper informed Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday she had “concerns” the power didn’t get the steadiness proper when it got here to making sure the occasion went forward safely whereas permitting peaceable protest.
“Whether you are royalist or whether you are republican, we should all be able to agree on free speech and the right to protest,” she added.
Ms Cooper mentioned new legal guidelines introduced in by the Conservative authorities days forward of the coronation, which give police extra energy to deal with disruptive protests, may very well be responsible.
The laws carries as much as a 12 months in jail for demonstrators blocking roads, airports and railways, and lets officers cease and search anybody they believe is planning to trigger disruption.
The Lib Dem MP mentioned the “far ranging, sweeping powers” would have “a real kind of chilling effect on the right to peaceful protest”.
While it was not but clear if the measures have been utilized by police on Saturday, it wanted to be investigated, she added.
Met urged to supply ‘accountability’
Labour’s Wes Streeting additionally referred to as for the power to supply “accountability” over the considerations which were raised about its coronation operation.
The shadow well being secretary informed Sophy Ridge: “I think it’s the accountability that’s important.
“Where considerations have been raised, whether or not that is by Republic, the marketing campaign for an elected head of state, or folks extra typically simply involved about what they’ve learn within the papers or seen on the telly, it is essential that the police present that accountability.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer mentioned police needed to “balance the right to protest, which is important in a democracy” with the precise of different folks “to enjoy what was a fabulous day”.
“Overall, they managed to get that balance right,” she added.
The minister additionally defended the brand new legal guidelines, saying she had “huge confidence” within the police and trusted them to make use of the brand new powers.
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Her Tory colleague, deputy celebration chairman and MP Lee Anderson, went additional, nonetheless.
In a tweet on Saturday, he attacked protesters going to the coronation, saying: “Not My King? If you do not wish to live in a country that has a monarchy the solution is not to turn up with your silly boards. The solution is to emigrate.”
Senior Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant later tweeted: “Freedom of speech is the silver thread that runs through a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.”
‘Proportionate’ policing
Met commander Findlay mentioned the power “absolutely understands public concern following the arrests”.
But she mentioned it was their “duty” to police protests “in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation”.
The senior officer additionally mentioned context was essential, including: “The coronation is a once-in-a-generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment.”
And she insisted a protest “involving large numbers” went forward “with police knowledge and no intervention”.
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Source: information.sky.com”