…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley has defended the arrest of six anti-monarchy protesters and criticised “ill-informed commentary” amid criticism of the action taken.
The six were the first arrests to be made under the new Public Order Act, on suspicion of going equipped to “lock-on”.
The arrests prevented the protesters from joining fellow activists on Saturday.
Sir Mark’s defence of the arrests:
Writing for the Evening Standard, Sir Mark said it was “unfortunate” that the protesters were unable to join the peaceful demonstrations but he supported the officers’ actions in a “unique fast-moving operational context”.
He did not provide any further details about the nature of the operation or the specific actions taken by the protesters.
The new powers and Prime Minister’s support:
The arrests were made under the sweeping new Public Order Act, which came into force last week.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the new powers, stating that it was necessary for officers to have the power to tackle “serious disruption”.
Analysis:
The arrests of the anti-monarchy protesters and the new powers granted under the Public Order Act have sparked controversy and debate around the right to protest and the use of police powers.
Sir Mark’s defence of the arrests highlights the complexity of policing large-scale demonstrations and the need for officers to balance public safety with the right to protest.
However, critics have argued that the sweeping new powers under the Public Order Act are too broad and could be used to suppress peaceful protest.
The case highlights the ongoing tension between police and protesters, and the need for careful consideration of police powers and the right to protest in a democratic society.