Eyewitness: protest and tributes – a memorial event for Jason Arday

Chris Hobbs attends a protest in memory of the black Cambridge University academic.

,The death of Jason Arday and the subsequent memorial event that was also a protest, would almost certainly have prompted a risk/threat assessment by the Met’s Public Order Branch. Trafalgar Square was the venue with the stage being set up on the ‘upper tier’ in front of the National gallery. Large crowds assembled in front of the gallery and extended down the central steps into Trafalgar Square and, for the seasoned protest observer, it soon became clear that there was a total absence of police officers.

It also became clear that that there were no truculent, vocal groups either of youths or activists from neither the right nor left of the political spectrum. Many of those attending complied with the wishes of the family organisers and dressed in black. Most were carrying flowers.

Perhaps the organisers underestimated the numbers which attended which meant that the sound system was not powerful enough to provide the coverage which the occasion demanded. It was possible to hear some of the more vocal speakers but often those on the outer limits of the crowd were unable to hear much of what was being said.

From that which I could hear there were two parallel themes running through the speeches. The first concerned the character of Jason Arday and his attributes while the second expressed anger at the nature and extent of media coverage. The argument, in essence, was that had Jason Arday been white, the coverage would have been far less extensive and therefore less likely to have resulted in tragedy; it should however be noted that a full inquest will thoroughly examine all the factors which resulted in Jason Arday’s untimely death.

On the basis of ‘know your enemy’ allied to the fact that the letters editor, does publish my submissions from time to time, I do collect the Mail from my local newsagents on a daily basis. I have to say that I couldn’t help but be surprised at the number of news items and articles the Daily Mail devoted to this subject.

Whilst the anger of the crowd was palpable, there wasn’t the slightest hint of violence during the speeches or the laying down of the flowers at the base of Nelson’s Column; in fact, it was most dignified, well-ordered crowd I’ve encountered during numerous years of covering public order events both as a serving and retired Met officer.

As flowers were being laid, a police carrier appeared and parked on an adjacent traffic island. A sergeant and PC walked around the square as flowers were still being laid and that was the end of police involvement. There was no attempt to stage an impromptu march, which can often be a headache for police especially at the conclusion of short notice events.

Whilst this event posed no issues for police, the Met will be too well aware that the August bank holiday weekend will pose familiar challenges; UKIP have announced their intention to march down the Edgware Road and this will be followed by two days of the Notting Hill Carnival.

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

Category: Public Order