Met Police ‘Regrets’ 6 Coronation Arrests
Scotland Yard has expressed regret that six people, who were arrested on May 6, were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square.
The police issued an updated statement on May 8, confirming that the bail for six people had been cancelled and “no further action will be taken.”
The six protesters were arrested on the day of the coronation, as part of a policing operation that saw a total of 64 arrests made. Scotland Yard said it was prompted by concerns “people were going to disrupt the event” and to “prevent a breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.”
The Metropolitan Police, acting under the newly passed Public Order Act, said they had reasonable grounds to believe the six were arrested for possession of lock-on devices.
However, the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use the seized items “to lock on and disrupt the event.”
The arrested stated that “the items would be used to secure placards,” the police added.
‘Apology Not Accepted’
Graham Smith, head of the anti-monarchy group Republic, has called for an inquiry into police actions.
Smith, who was among those arrested, took to Twitter on May 8 to say Met police officers visited him on Monday evening to apologise.
“This evening three Met police officers visited my home to hand back my phone and the luggage straps. They apologised while wearing a body cam. I made it clear the apology is not accepted as we will be taking further action,” Smith said.
He called the events “a disgraceful episode” and confirmed he will be “speaking to lawyers about taking legal action.”
“I also expect a full inquiry into why they repeatedly lied to us and who authorised the arrests,” the Republic chief said.
Republic has argued in an official statement that the arrests have “destroyed whatever trust might have existed between peaceful protesters and the Metropolitan Police.”
“What is the point in being open and candid with the police, working with their liaison officers and meeting senior commanders, if all their promises and undertakings turn out to be a lie?” the organisation said.
The anti-monarchists have argued that the arrests were “not about protecting people from harm, but about protecting the King from embarrassment.”
The Met Police said they had received information that protesters were determined to disrupt the coronation procession.
“It was not our intention to prevent protest and whilst the vast masses of the crowd were there to celebrate, it is very clear a number of protests took place across the footprint both before, during and after the event with no police intervention. Any suggestion all protest was prohibited is not correct,” the Met said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended Scotland Yard ensuring that the coronation weekend had “gone so well, so successfully, and so safely.”
He told broadcasters at a Big Help Out volunteering event in Hertfordshire, “The police are operationally independent of government, they’ll make these decisions based on what they think is best.”
Tens of thousands of people gathered in London on May 6 to witness the coronation of King Charles III. Ahead of the coronation, the government gave the green light to the Public Order Bill, under which the police were given extended stop and search powers.
Britain has faced a number of protests in recent years, staged by climate activists such as Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, and Insulate Britain, some of which have resulted in the blocking of main roads and motorways across the UK.
