Eyewitness: whisper it softly but the Met did rather well last weekend

Chris Hobbs attends the policing of the one of the biggest rival twin protests in recent years in which the £4.7m operation went to plan.

It’s not often a public order event or to be more precise, two public order events, grabs the headlines of mainstream media outlets across the UK. The challenges would have been obvious to even the most politically unaware as Tommy Robinson’s UTK (Unite the Kingdom) and various leftist organisations including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stand Up to Racism, squared up to each other in a war of words as the day in question approached.

Those on the left complained bitterly that the Met had shown favouritism towards UTK in allowing them to parade in central London on a day when the left traditionally commemorate the displacement of thousands of Palestinians between 1947 and 1949 by the Israelis; this event is known as the NAKBA. In fact, UTK ‘got in first’ and made their intentions clear in mid-December which resulted in their having a preferred central London route which would take them down Kingsway, along the Strand to their rally in Parliament Square. Such were the anticipated numbers that screens were placed along Whitehall to accommodate the inevitable overflow from Parliament Square.

The NAKBA march and rally therefore had two themes; the above- mentioned NAKBA commemoration and ‘anti-racism’ directed against Tommy Robinson and UTK. Their route was a lengthy one from Exhibition Road via Hyde Park and Green Park to their rally location in Pall Mall. The challenge to the Met involved keeping both polar opposite sides apart. This involved 4,000 officers including those on ‘aid’ from other forces with a reported cost of more than £4,000,000.

Flags at stations

I opted to begin the day in the Euston, St Pancras, Kings Cross area and found hundreds of UTK supporters already present complete with St, George and Union flags, Also, present were significant numbers of pro-Iranian monarchists, Before I arrived, an individual dressed as some sort of crusader was found to be in possession of a sword. Alas it allegedly was not of the harmless cardboard variety but metal which resulted in an arrest.

Another well-known male was also arrested in relation to an alleged assault offence in another part of the country involving the use of a vehicle. This attracted significant adverse social media comment.

Thousands of UTK supporters made their way down Upper Woburn Place towards the ‘starting line’ near Russell Square. With reports that all public houses in the Whitehall area would be closed for the day, licensed premises in and around the Euston Road were enjoying a notable and doubtless welcome increase in trade.

As Russell Square station was closed, I had to retrace my steps to Kings Cross and board a Piccadilly Line train to Green Park which was on the route of the NAKBA march. Green Park was also the assembly point for the disabled and others who would have found the entire march route too demanding.

Green Park

During this welcome interval I had an interesting chat with one of the stewards who were assembled by Green Park. Their mission was to stop anti-racists from passing through the gates and entering Green Park in order to make their way to Whitehall and confront those from the UTK. If the reverse happened, they were to attempt to prevent UTK supporters from getting through the gates in order to attack the marchers.

In actual fact neither scenario materialised but the stewards were soon to be called ‘into action.’

The marchers duly appeared from the direction of Hyde Park corner complete with the now familiar banners, flags and chants. As ever the ‘Jewish bloc’ were present but their numbers appeared greater than on more recent protests. As the march passed, the only controversial utterings I heard concerned the adapted Italian anti-fascist song Bella Ciao (which I confess I rather like) that included the controversial phrase, ‘from the river to the sea.’ As I’ve stated before, I doubt whether, because of its multiple meanings, a prosecution in relation to that phrase would pass muster with the CPS. Interestingly another version of Bella Ciao has emerged from Canada in the wake of Trump’s apparent threat to absorb the country.

Pro-Israeli counter protest

There was, as the march made its way towards Green Park station, what could have been a flashpoint as a dozen individuals emerged from the park carrying Israeli flags and a sound system. This could have sparked mayhem but police quickly formed up in front of the group and stewards equally speedily and commendably formed their own cordon and kept the march moving. There was no attempt that I saw, by any on the march, to physically assault their adversaries although, predictably, insults were exchanged.

There was some criticism of officers by stewards in that there was no attempt to utilise section 14 of the Public Order Act in order to disperse the pro-Israeli activists. However, there was an acknowledgement that if officers took such action, there would be an avalanche of criticism.

The march took two hours to pass Green Park and whilst there were a few individuals with faces covered, there were no groups of masked youths dressed in black which would signal the presence of ANTIFA activists. Indeed, there were no reports or sightings of gangs of masked youths at all, even though they had been very much in evidence at the last UTK protest.

Posts later on social media suggested that a small pro-Israeli group, perhaps identical to those above, were present at the start of the NAKBA march and traded insults with the pro-Palestinians taking part.

The Unite the Kingdom rally

With the marchers safely at the rally, I decided to make my way to the UTK rally via the Bakerloo Line. Outside Piccadilly Circus station the TSG were speaking to and searching a group of youths. A trickle of pro-Palestinians were making their way down to the underground which could provide an opportunity for disorder as some leaving the UTK rally would be also be using the Bakerloo Line to get home. However, on arrival at Charing Cross, a brief chat with a BTP officer saw him immediately activating his radio.

Trafalgar Square was barriered-off and Welsh police officers blocked off Cockspur Street with three carriers. As stated earlier, giant screens from Trafalgar Square spread along Whitehall to Parliament Square clearly illustrated a well- planned UTK operation. However, all was not totally sanguine. A walk to The Mall saw half a dozen officers attempting to subdue a clearly violent individual. Fortunately, the location of the altercation ensured that they were only a small number of hecklers hurling abuse at officers. After what seemed an inordinate length of time, prisoner transport arrived and the incident was over.

A walk down Whitehall saw many leaving as the event was entering its final stages. Tommy Robinson praised migrants who had made a positive contribution to the UK and introduced two young females who confirmed his view. Whilst there was plenty of room to move around Whitehall, Parliament Square was more densely packed. Tommy Robinson praised police and asked those present to behave as they left the area. There was a rousing rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone,’ at the conclusion of which the crowds began streaming homewards.

Walking back up Whitehall however, a serial of police officers began to run. It soon became clear that they were rushing to assist colleagues who had made an arrest. The extrication was quick and effective as officers formed a protestive bubble around colleagues and the prisoner and moved him quickly to Horseguards Avenue. They were accompanied by a crowd hurling foul-mouthed abuse but reached a group of police carriers without breaking stride.

Epilogue

Shortly after the events had concluded, the Met announced that there had been 43 arrests throughout the day which illustrated the success of the huge policing operation. Further arrests have since been made and more are expected. Despite the animosity between the two groups, Met tactics plus the endeavours from Met officers and others from across the country, ensured that the challenging scenario never evolved into mass disorder.

Another noticeable and commendable aspect of the policing operation during the weekend was Met ‘Comms.’ Factual, prompt and corrective statements were frequent and there was much praise for the effective use of ‘pushback.’

The Met also made a point of quickly using social media to illustrate racist abuse directed at officers during the UTK rally. It is perhaps worth noting that similar abuse has also been directed towards ethnic officers at pro-Palestine events including at female officers who wear a hijab.

Another feature emanating from the weekend is ‘fake news.’ One piece of footage emanating from an American activist purported to show mounted officers in London dealing with ANTIFA activists. In fact, the footage was from a Britain First protest in Manchester some weeks ago.

Another piece of social media footage allegedly from Saturday, showed a crowd of Muslim men holding placards; this was in fact a scene from a Hizb-ut-Tahrir protest some years ago. The group have since been proscribed.

A Talk TV journalist pointed out that an interview she had with a child, portrayed as current, took place some years ago.

The simple fact is that the Met’s planning, tactics and efforts by officers contributed to a massive but hugely successful policing operation yet there was little fulsome praise from politicians, the mainstream media, social media and indeed very senior police officers which collectively served to remove just another small sliver from what is left of police morale.

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

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