Police have been criticised after stories that volunteers serving to to maintain girls secure have been arrested within the early hours of coronation day.
The Metropolitan Police mentioned that at round 2am on Saturday three individuals have been arrested within the Soho space of central London on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance.
Among the gadgets seized have been a variety of rape alarms, with the Met saying it had “received intelligence that indicated groups and individuals seeking to disrupt today’s coronation proceedings were planning to use rape alarms to disrupt the procession”.
They added: “There was particular concern from military colleagues that this would scare their horses involved in the procession and, as a result, cause significant risk to the safety of the public and the riders.”
Earlier, the Met had tweeted that the intelligence had “indicated that people were planning to throw rape alarms” to disrupt the procession.
But the three individuals arrested have been reportedly volunteers with the Night Stars programme, which is run by Westminster City Council.
The rape alarms are handed out by the volunteers as a part of their efforts to “promote women’s safety and reduce violence against women and girls”, in line with the council’s web site.
Councillor Aicha Less, cupboard member for communities and public safety at Westminster City Council, mentioned: “We are deeply concerned by reports of our Night Stars volunteers being arrested overnight.
“This service has been a well-known and welcome sight within the West End for a very long time and have intensive coaching to allow them to help essentially the most weak on the streets late at night time.
“We are working with the Metropolitan Police to establish exactly what happened, and in the meantime, we are in touch with our volunteers to ensure they are receiving the support they need.”
Council chief Adam Hug added: “We are urgently pushing the police for proper answers.
“Our Night Stars do wonderful work serving to weak individuals on the streets at night time.”
‘One of them came out of the station in tears’
The three people arrested – a 37-year-old woman, a 59-year-old woman, and a 47-year-old man – were questioned at a south London police station.
The man was also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, police said, with all three since being released on bail pending further enquiries.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: “The intelligence we obtained led us to be extraordinarily fearful in regards to the potential danger to public security.
“We are aware of and understand there is public concern over these arrests. However, the matter is still under investigation.”
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Mic Wright, a journalist who spoke with the three arrested individuals, wrote on Twitter: “The Met arrested members of the City of Westminster’s Night Safety team.
“They are volunteers.
“They were pulled last night at 2am and have been held for 14 hours.
“One of them got here out of the station in tears. Police did not apologise.”
Jamie Klinger, co-founder of Reclaim These Streets, tweeted: “The police have executed nothing to make girls safer and now are arresting their very own volunteers working to maintain girls secure.
“Yet another black eye for (Met Police commissioner) Mark Rowley.”
‘The monarch is there to defend our freedoms – now our freedoms are underneath assault in his title’
Anti-monarchy group Republic additionally mentioned six of its members, together with its chief government Graham Smith, have been arrested early on Saturday.
Mr Smith was held for nearly 16 hours, tweeting after his launch at about 11.30pm: “Make no mistake: there is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK.
“I’ve been informed many occasions the monarch is there to defend our freedoms.
“Now our freedoms are under attack in his name.”
More than 50 arrests on coronation day
The arrests have been amongst greater than 50 on the day of the King’s coronation, with affray, public order breaches, and conspiracy to trigger public nuisance among the many alleged offences.
Met Commander Karen Findlay mentioned: “Our first priority has been to ensure that the tens of thousands who travelled into London today, and millions more around the world, were able to enjoy a safe, secure and dignified coronation.
“We perceive public concern following arrests made this morning. We police proportionately and within the context of the occasion. This is a as soon as in a era second and that has been a key consideration.”
Source: information.sky.com”