Eyewitness: mounted units prove their worth during a complex public order operation

Chris Hobbs at the Unite the Kingdom march witnesses violence turned on officers policing the protest and a 'decisive use' of police horses.

Even for someone familiar with London public order events such as myself, stepping out of Waterloo Station provided a spectacle that was unprecedented. In every direction could be seen hundreds upon hundreds of Union and St. George’s flags. It was clear that this was the prelude to a march and rally that London had not seen for many years.

The scale of this event was mirrored by a large policing operation with ‘mutual aid’ being obtained from other forces. Two BTP Operational Support Unit officers I spoke to were based at in the North of England and Scotland respectively.

Anti-racist’s march

I didn’t linger long and based on what was to be proved an erroneous assumption that disorder was likely to originate from leftist, masked ANTIFA activists, I travelled up to Russell Square where the anti-racist counter protest was assembling.

The policing plan was based on successful past operations involving Tommy Robinson and anti-racist counter-protesters; Opposing marches would take separate designated routes and each rally at opposite ends of Whitehall would be separated by a large sterile area that would require significant detours if navigated.

The anti-racism march eventually numbered around 5,000 and proceeded at a snail’s pace down Kingsway and along the Strand punctuated on by a heavy rain shower which was not appreciated by police liaison officers who were in shirtsleeves.

Police under attack

Photo: Crime Scene Images

The march reached Trafalgar Square and participants began to enter Whitehall where their stage had been erected. The ANTIFA group hadn’t arrived when I was informed that police were coming attack near the Ministry of Defence building by a crowd throwing bottles and other missiles. Puzzled, I set off using the inevitable detour. I was making good progress when I received a phone call stating that disorder had broken out where I’d just been namely by Trafalgar Square and the junctions with Northumberland Avenue and the Strand. The call also said that there ‘weren’t a lot of police around.’

On my return to the area around Trafalgar Square, I saw a small group of Unite the Kingdom (UTK) protesters with flags near the junction with Northumberland Avenue. Further on near the Strand, there was another larger group also with flags. The anti-racist group were continuing to march along the Strand towards Trafalgar Square and their ultimate destination of Whitehall. The penny then dropped that I had clearly missed a physical confrontation between the two groups.

Clashes begin

More UTK supporters were arriving, insults were exchanged and fighting between the two groups broke out as the few police present rushed to break up the disorder. I left the scene for a comfort break at Charing Cross Station as increasing numbers of UTK supporters were arriving via the area around Embankment station. It would appear that they had tried to force their way through police cordons that had blocked other routes into Whitehall. This route was unguarded.

On returning, I encountered a serial of BTP OSU officers standing just outside Charing cross station. I pointed out that officers were struggling a few yards away. It turned out they were fully aware of this but were frustrated in that they needed to get the green light from a senior officer before they could become involved. They did get that green light shortly afterwards and were soon joining the cordons keeping the two sides apart.

ANTIFA arrive

The arrival of the sinister looking ANTIFA group, masked, hooded, dressed in black and numbering around 150 provoked anger amongst those supporters of the UTK. It should be stressed that ANTIFA were part of the march, had stuck to the conditions imposed and had contributed nothing untoward other than to look sinister. The group paused on a traffic Island, grouped up tightly in a formation previously seen during conflict with police during an anti-migrant protest at the Barbican. On this occasion arriving police surrounded them.

Other anti-racist protesters were encouraged by a very vocal steward, to keep moving into Whitehall and the stage where a variety of speakers were appearing.  After a while, the tight ANTIFA formation shuffled backwards as a unit towards Whitehall. Their ‘retreat’ looked disciplined and practised but at the very top of Whitehall, the density of the opposition proved too great. Police, now donning NATO helmets given the fact that missiles were flying, surrounded the ANTIFA activists and UTK supporters surrounded them.

Missiles were thrown towards this group during which time, encouraged by the above- mentioned steward, the remaining anti-racists were safely installed in Whitehall where speeches commenced. The numbers of UTK supporters had, however, increased dramatically as attention began to switch from the stranded ANTIFA group to the several thousand anti-racists in Whitehall who themselves were effectively cut off. They were protected by a police line of officers in full ‘riot gear.’

Officers and their horses avoid a potential catastrophe

Several hundred UTK protesters, as opposed to curious UTK onlookers, had now effectively become a mob and tried to force their way through the police line in order to attack the anti-racists. At one stage where the onslaught appeared especially violent, PAVA spray appears to have utilised; I can say this with some certainty as I felt some of its effects as did others around me.

Had the violent UTK elements been able to force their way through police lines, then the results could have been catastrophic due to the inevitable panic which would have resulted amongst the anti-racist groups. However, the appearance of police horses proved decisive and police once again established control. Gradually, that police line pushed forward while the ANTIFA contingent, assisted by police, shuffled along the sides of Whitehall buildings and eventually rejoined their fellow anti-racist protesters despite the missiles thrown in their direction.

The situation gradually stabilised as police effectively retook the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall. The several thousand anti-racists were now themselves, focussed on their rivals but were faced by a police line. The question now was how were they to be extricated given that hundreds of UTK supporters were still in the area and watching events.

Met officers, including a TSG unit, were now forming cordons around Trafalgar Square which allowed members of the public into the Square but would not let them out other than via a circuitous route. Thus, members of the public and UTK activists who were tantalisingly just across the road from their destination of Charing Cross Station had to embark on a journey of discovery to get there.

An extrication masterclass

However, the eventual safe extraction of the anti-racists was a masterclass. The several thousand began to move as a group up Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square escorted by police. UTK supporters were blocked by carefully placed serials of officers in full riot gear as the anti-racists turned left into Cockspur Street and away from Trafalgar Square. A group of three UTK supporters waving union flags at the procession were ignored. The tactics used in the extrication of several thousand through hostile opposition closely resembled those seen at high- risk football matches.

After the departure of the anti-racists, many UTK supporters drifted away; this left officers in and around Trafalgar Square with the hundred or so UTK supporters on the base of Nelson’s Column to deal with. These too gradually melted away while the only other issue were two auditor types who were constantly in the faces of officers.

The debrief

It would indeed be interesting to be a fly on the wall of the debrief. There is little doubt that replicating the original blueprint of previous Tommy Robinson linked protests was understandable but found wanting due to the sheer weight of numbers. Clearly many of those attending were not far-right extremists but those with serious concerns. However, it would seem that the area at the Parliament Square end of Whitehall was inadequate for the numbers attending. Perhaps more screens extending further afield, which showed the speeches may have remedied the situation.

Those unable to get within listening distance of the rally went walkabout and tried to gain access to Whitehall via other entry points but found themselves prevented from doing so by cordons of officers who were then attacked. This would explain the information I received in respect of missiles being thrown at officers by the Ministry of Defence building.

The Met released a diagrammatic map which showed where clashes occurred but eventually the angry crowds found an unguarded route up to Trafalgar Square which appears to have been around Embankment station.

Once reaching the Strand, confrontation was inevitable and that confrontation extended to trying to break through police lines in Whitehall. Having said that, whilst CCTV cameras and body worn camera footage will lead to early morning ‘knocks” for many, large numbers of the UTK element were merely curious onlookers as, I suppose, was I.

Conversely, a cynic did make the rather harsh point as to how many of those attending the main rally, would have left in order to participate in the disorder around Trafalgar Square had they known about it. Whether that would have been the case is a matter for conjecture but it is highly likely that the organisers would have been aware of that which was occurring and commendably kept it to themselves rather than risk even the slightest possibility of an escalation.

Another issue emerging is one briefly referred to above in respect of communication. Over the weekend it became clear that many hundreds of UTK supporters struggled to even cross the river. It appears Westminster Bridge was, at some stage, blocked by police. Many tried Waterloo Bridge but that too was blocked due to the fact that the opposite end of the bridge was on the route of the anti-racist march.

It would appear that every time UTK supporters came up against a police cordon which steered them away from the rally, there was a communication issue. I’ve often commented on the fact that whilst protesters are frequently in possession of megaphones, police are not. I’ve seen a megaphone used once, to great effect, at a pro-Palestine protest at the Israeli Embassy. On another occasion, police loudspeaker announcements to a crowd in Trafalgar Square emanated from a rather battered looking van, but at least there was communication.

Another excellent suggestion sent to me via ‘X’ concerned the use of message boards to inform and update crowds of the current situation. I’m sure, many years ago, I’ve seen them used by the Met. Perhaps they are languishing in a police building or garage somewhere. If not, despite the cuts, they would be worth purchasing given the fact that further, well attended public order events seem inevitable.

The lack of communication leads to an embellishment of the facts. Social media claimed that ANTIFA, whose block numbered around 150 as stated above, were rampantly attacking UTK supporters. Others simply referred to all anti-racist protesters as ANTIFA, and portrayed them as a rampaging mob. In fact, their march was uneventful and it was they who were effectively trapped in Whitehall where attempts by a mob to attack them was frustrated by police.

Dogs, horses, injuries and arrests

The other issue was the use of mounted police units whose contribution was invaluable to not just officers but the public, by preventing assaults and injuries; yet many of those horses are being surrendered by the Commissioner and Mayor Khan with barely a whimper. Police dogs were also very much on display and doubtless would have been fully deployed had the situation deteriorated still further. Forty dogs are being lost according to one officer; again, with barely a whimper.

Last weeks protest linked to Palestine Action saw a number of officers assaulted in and around Parliament Square. On Saturday officers were forced to don NATO helmets due to the number of missiles thrown in both their direction and the direction of anti-racist groups. 26 officers were injured, four seriously including one who was knocked unconscious.

As is usual with public order events, arrests on the day don’t reflect the level of disorder. Often the more serious the disorder, the less opportunity there is to make arrests at the time. Every individual who throws a missile at officers or opponents, commits a crime; plenty were thrown on Saturday. Whitehall is riddled with CCTV cameras and these plus officer’s body worn cameras will lead to further arrests. Just how many depends on the resources allocated given the other pressures on the Met.

Finally, police critics from both the far right and hard left, should ask themselves what the reaction of police would have been in other European countries. Earlier this week, UK news channels showed fully ‘kitted’ (armoured would be a more accurate description) French officers wading into a crowd of strikers with batons flailing.

To those demanding a ‘new order’ in the UK: Be careful of what you wish for.

Chris Hobbs is a former Special Branch officers who follows public order events as an observer for Police Oracle. 

Category: OpsPublic Order