Activists Opposed to ULEZ Released on Bail After Protesting Near Mayor Khan’s Residence
Witnesses reported a heavy police presence as authorities issued warnings about taking action against individuals targeting private homes or surrounding areas.
Five individuals were arrested during an anti-ULEZ protest near the London Mayor’s residence but later released on bail without charges, as per NTD.
The protest, known as “Khanage @ Khan’s,” commenced at noon on Saturday and was soon met with a significant police presence in the vicinity of, but not directly at Mr. Khan’s home.
Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and utilized a Section 42 order, a legal directive empowering authorities to instruct protesters to disperse.
The Metropolitan Police informed The Epoch Times that protests near or outside people’s homes are unacceptable.
ULEZ
ULEZ cameras are used to identify non-compliant vehicle drivers who are then charged £12.50 per day to drive in any London borough. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has faced strong opposition to the scheme.
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Last year, the zone was expanded to cover the entirety of Greater London as a measure to enhance air quality, according to Mr. Khan. Transport for London (TfL) has installed nearly 1,900 ULEZ cameras in the extended area.
Several protests have taken place in London against Mr. Khan’s ULEZ rollout, including at Parliament, Trafalgar Square, and 10 Downing Street.
Witnesses informed NTD that they had never seen such a large police presence compared to the number of protesters before.
During the demonstration, police communicated with the organizer, Kingsley Hamilton, emphasizing the peaceful nature of the protest. Hamilton requested time to relay the message to everyone, which was agreed upon by the policewoman.
Despite being disappointed with being instructed to disperse, Hamilton emphasized the importance of maintaining the group’s reputation and promptly began removing the banners.
Subsequently, a smoke flare was ignited across the street away from the primary protest group, leading to two or three individuals fleeing from the smoke, as observed by NTD reporters. The police extinguished the smoke flare with a fire extinguisher.
Hamilton clarified that the incident was not caused by their group and speculated that it was a “counter-protest” aimed at disrupting their activities.
Arrests
Five individuals were arrested, three in quick succession, as per NTD.
One individual, referred to as “Nick,” mentioned that upon his release, police informed him that he was arrested for “blocking the road” during an emergency vehicle’s passage, which he claims he did not observe.
Another person reported being arrested while filming “Nick.”
A woman was arrested while changing out of her dinosaur costume on the ground. Another man was arrested while holding a placard.
An elderly man in purple, who faced several health conditions and had difficulty walking quickly, was arrested while trying to assist the woman off the ground.
Following the arrests, a police line advanced towards the remaining protesters, requesting them to finish packing up and depart on a bus.
Subsequently, the protesters proceeded to Charing Cross Police Station for a secondary protest, demanding the immediate release of the five individuals.
By 8 pm on Saturday, all were released on bail without charges after spending eight hours in custody.
‘Can Expect To Be Dealt With By Officers’
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed to The Epoch Times that five individuals were arrested on Saturday, April 6, by officers responding to a demonstration in Wandsworth.
One arrest was made for obstructing police, while four were made under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act.
The spokesperson highlighted that targeting residential areas that may be perceived as harassment towards residents is not acceptable, leading to the arrests of the four individuals who failed to comply with police directions to vacate the area.
The five individuals have been bailed awaiting further investigations until early July.
Commander Colin Wingrove, responsible for policing across London during the weekend, emphasized that protests near or outside private homes are not acceptable. He added that anyone engaging in such actions can anticipate facing consequences at the hands of law enforcement.
The Epoch Times sought a response from The Mayor of London.
Malcolm Hudson contributed to this report.
