Eyewitness: there may be trouble ahead’…

Chris Hobbs attends the latest series of protests and praises the actions of 999 'Team London' in dealing with an incident that involved a nasty injury.

There may be trouble ahead’………………. could well have been the thoughts that passed through the minds of those compiling the Met police’s threat assessments in respect of London’s recent public order events.

The decision to proscribe the activist group Palestine Action resulted in a midweek, daytime protest adjacent to Trafalgar Square where disorder occurred resulting in 13 arrests. Those attending numbered around 800 thus it was anticipated that an evening mid-week protest, given that tensions had increased, would result in several thousand descending on Parliament.

The Met imposed conditions which forced the organisers to relocate to opposite Downing Street and, the first thoughts of experienced protest watchers concerned whether the protesters would obey the conditions. In fact, most did, leaving just a stubborn few by the railings of Parliament.

Defiance

One gentleman, in a decorated mobility scooter, mimicked Hitler in appearance and exhibited pictures of Gaza’s war victims. His arrest would have been problematic for the Met but some very gentle persuasion resulted in him moving off to join the main protest.

A handful of others were also persuaded to make their way to the main protest but this left two females on the floor refusing to move. Met officers did their best but eventually this section of the footway adjacent to the gates of Parliament became a sterile area. It wasn’t immediately obvious, but the problem facing officers was one of ‘locking on.’ This meant that a specialist locksmith had to be sent and thus explained why a prisoner transport van didn’t immediately appear.

Eventually, the lady, whose daughter is apparently in prison following alleged criminality by Palestine Action, unlocked herself and, with her companion, was placed in the van.

An uneventful gathering and an uneventful dispersal

Attention then turned to the above- mentioned Whitehall ‘emergency meeting’ where numbers seemed no greater than previous ‘emergency meetings.’ Once again, those attending seemed to split themselves into two; one group listened to speeches occasionally punctuated by familiar chanting.

The other, more youthful group, indulged in a continuous chant and song ‘fest.’ The ‘witching hour’ was 8pm. The speeches stopped in advance of that time and then just after Big Ben struck eight, officers moved amongst the youthful crowd reminding them it was time to leave. The protesters needed little persuading and began walking along the footway towards Trafalgar Square.

Those who were still utilising megaphones were advised by officers to stop and when the protesters reached Charing Cross Station, they simply dispersed. As they were dispersing, a Met police carrier on ‘blues and two’s’ arrived at Charing Cross station and its officers detained an individual on the station concourse. The individual was compliant and it’s not known if the arrest was linked to the protest.

Thus, the Met commanders could feel satisfied that another a potentially difficult evening for police ended with no discernible disorder.

Football lads rally and anti-racists

The previous Saturday saw another challenging day for the Met when a ‘protect our children,’ protest organised by ‘Football Lads” was held. This was essentially a protest against grooming gangs and was deemed ‘far right’ by anti-racist organisations. It was endorsed by Tommy Robinson and his lieutenants.

A previous rally in respect of children, was held some weeks ago at Hyde Park Corner and was poorly attended. On this occasion however, the meeting point in Russell Square saw a much- improved turnout of around 4,000. Word soon spread that Tommy Robinson wouldn’t be attending, but the march set off in good spirits complete with stewards. However, as protesters left the greenery of Russell Square and proceeded down Southampton Row towards Aldwych, it became clear from frenetic police activity, that there was a problem.

An anti-racist group complete with banners numbering around 100 had assembled on the route having emerged from a side street. Police quickly forced them back down that side street and placed two carriers across the junction.

The counter-protesters were still, however, visible to the marchers who made no secret of their views as they hurled abuse in their direction. However, stewards and indeed a number of participants, kept the marchers moving and any potential confrontation was avoided. The anti-racists moved off once the march had passed and were not seen again that day.

Stewards halted the march as it reached the top of Whitehall and once the procession had ‘grouped up’ they walked down Whitehall towards the stage joining in with ‘Rule Brittania’ emanating from the stage loud speakers.

As the speeches began, it appeared an opportune time to view the anti-racist counter-protest which was taking place at the Parliament Street end of Whitehall.

 

A ‘miserly’ counter-protest

In fact, the turnout must have been a disappointment to the organisers as it attracted a miserly crowd of around 200. There were, I was told, other competing leftist events and one response on ‘X’ was that many potential anti-racists were enjoying events at Glastonbury, which in itself, became controversially linked to the Palestine issue.

My return to the top end of Whitehall was delayed by a teenage female tourist who was enjoying London with her Mum but became unwell in the heat. Placing a water bottle one-third full, in the freezer the night before, paid dividends.

On returning to the Football Lads protest, I was surprised to find that the rally had finished and many had left the area or adjourned to the local pubs. Conditions imposed on the rally stated that it had to conclude by 5PM. The anti-racist rally had to conclude by 3PM. There was speculation that wires had become crossed which meant that the organisers believed they had to also finish at 3PM.

The only incident of any significance occurred by Charing Cross station when a youth was detained for apparently attempting to snatch an Israeli flag from an individual who had attended the Football Lads protest.

Happily, however, relations between both sets of protesters and police were amicable and there was no hint of any form of significant disorder other than that early counter-protest referred to above.

Team London

Returning to the mid-week Palestine Action event, an unrelated incident occurred on the Strand as the protesters were dispersing. A male, possibly a tourist, was assaulted on the footway almost opposite Charing Cross Station. He fell and his head hit the pavement causing a nasty injury. This incident involved all three London police forces plus the London Ambulance Service.

A passing British Transport police unit apprehended and detained the suspect; a passing City of London police ARV stopped and its armed officers utilised their first aid skills to treat the victim then Met officers, who have responsibility for the Strand, arrived to coordinate the response and preserve the scene. Finally, a London Ambulance crew took over tending to the unfortunate victim. All in all, a fine example of 999 ‘Team London.’

Tomorrow sees the annual Pride event in London which, if it follows the pattern of last year, will be both colourful, good natured and trouble free.

Chris Hobbs is a former Special Branch officer who follows public order events for Police Oracle.