Middle-East tensions mean UK public order challenges continue

Chris Hobbs attends the latest series of Gaza War protests in which Speaker's Corner became an unusual potential flashpoint.

As a schoolboy in my mid-teens, when I was at a loose end on a summer’s Sunday afternoon, I used to jump on a number 30 bus which would take me to Marble Arch and the free entertainment provided at Speaker’s Corner.

Once there I’d wander around the variety of stands and platforms, listening to them together with those who came to debate and heckle. In those days, there seemed to be two varieties of speaker; those from the left which included communists, socialists, pacifists and those who wanted to ban nuclear weapons together with a variety of religious speakers, with some preaching ‘hell-fire and damnation.’

One factor that was absent, despite the passion, was violence or the threat of violence. There was normally, however, a pair of friendly patrolling constables just to keep a benevolent eye on events.

I’ve visited Speakers Corner on several occasions over the past few years. Issues around religion have become especially prevalent with various groups and sects; one of the most divisive was apparently during the Iran/Iraq war.

Three years ago, events took a sinister turn when a female Christian preacher, Hatun Tash, who held strong views in respect of Islam, was stabbed. She survived but just over a year later a male was arrested and later convicted of a planned terrorist attack where Hatun Tash was the intended target. The terrorist, Edward Little, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 24 years.

Potential confrontations 

Last week, two men were arrested at Speakers Corner after a bible was torn to pieces. In the wake of the Tommy Robinson march and rally; this prompted a ‘pro-Christian,’ protest on Sunday by those who, to their chagrin, are still labelled ‘far right.’ As well as the bible incident, it was clear from social media comment that a major issue was the ‘Islamic takeover,’ of Speaker’s Corner.

The protest was due to commence at 2.30pm and by then the usual ‘business,’ of Speakers Corner was well under way. There were already numerous individuals holding forth, being heckled or engaged in debate. One diminutive female Christian speaker was addressing a small crowd occasionally holding up notices in respect of Christianity and Islam that drew good natured jeers from those surrounding her stage. She later wrapped an Israeli flag around herself and wondered around the area but there were no threats or abuse.

The protest group, together with several wooden crosses, came into Speaker’s Corner at around 2.45PM and were greeted by a throng of cameras including several that were providing a live feed. Despite the publicity, they numbered around sixty but their entry was controlled in that there was no suggestion that they were looking for confrontation. They began their own religious meeting with orations and chanting that grew a crowd including a number of masked youths and there then followed a vigorous debate.

Suddenly, however, an aggressive heckler appeared; a powerfully built male who those observing assumed was Muslim; however, as his diatribe continued, those of us observing began to realise he was in fact a Christian who did not approve of this other Christian group. Eventually the police intervened and the protesters moved back down the path towards the entrance. We thought that was that but they returned to Speaker’s Corner via another path and began another meeting. The heckler remained in the park but focused on other groups with whom he disagreed.

The attention of most in Speaker’s Corner was, albeit briefly, distracted  by the appearance of several thousand pro-Ukrainian protesters who were marching through Hyde Park before leaving by the Speaker’s Corner gates.

Tensions rise 

As the afternoon wore on however, tempers became frayed. Two police officers intervened in one dispute The above- mentioned heckler got involved with another group. A drink was thrown as another debate continued and someone’s baseball cap was snatched and thrown. These actions were, however, condemned by those watching.

By 5.30pm, most of the original group of 60 protesters had left but there was a large dense group engaged in debate. Whilst some were, like me, interested spectators, there were now two distinctive groups, mainly of youths. Much attention was focused on an elderly male who, earlier was with the diminutive Christian preacher and he seemed to be the centre of attention.

One observation, I and others gradually realised, was that a number of masked youths were in fact on the Christian side of the debate yet appeared unconnected to the original protest. The rival chanting based on Allah and Christ grew and, although these tensions wouldn’t have been obvious to officers watching from a distance away, fighting was inevitable and so it proved.

The skirmish saw police rushing to intervene and one male was detained. He was escorted from the park as the situation quicky calmed. Given the current tensions in the Middle East, security at this iconic location clearly has to be an issue.

Yet another pro-Palestinian march

The previous day had seen yet another ‘national,’ pro-Palestinian march and rally in London. This was, it would seem, the 19th such event since the dreadful events of the 7th of October. Despite the constant references in relation to ‘hate-marches’ and assertions that they bring terror to the streets of central London, the Met state that they have been generally peaceful in terms of physical disorder. It should also be remembered that these marches have been significant in terms of the sheer number of protesters.

However, we have seen numerous examples of ‘actions, in the UK away from these marches which have included intimidation and criminal damage. The last mid-week ‘emergency’ protest resulted in disorder after most protesters had left which required a ‘force mobilisation.’ Other local protests in the Camden area also saw disorder and arrests, thus Saturday’s protest caused some concern as whether there would be an escalation in disorder.

The march was from Russell Square, down to the Aldwych then along the Embankment before entering Whitehall via Horse guard’s Avenue. The stage could be found at the bottom of Whitehall by Parliament Square.

As has been a feature during recent marches, pro-Israelis staged a static counter-protest at the bottom of Aldwych. The designated location attracted some criticism from the organisers but at least, unlike the previous protest, the two sides were not ‘cheek by jowl,’ as occurred during the march as it passed through Piccadilly Circus.

This arrangement was different again; the first ‘line of defence’ consisted of a line of stewards standing shoulder to shoulder. The second, after an interval of several yards, was a cordon of officers and behind them a row of the familiar interlocked steel barriers, behind which stood the pro-Israeli counter-protesters.

The arrangement was rather more ‘flexible’ than those seen at previous protests. Members of the public were allowed to stand in the area between the stewards and the officers. The public were also allowed to pass through at the end of the line of stewards, past the police cordon and then the end of the row of steel barriers. At one stage, as the march progressed, an immaculately dressed wedding party emerged from the passing throng of protesters and moved through the line of stewards, the police cordon, past the steel barriers before being greeted by the intrigued pro-Israeli protesters.

The usual insults and chants were exchanged but the stewards managed to keep the march moving. The only incident of note was an egg being thrown from the pro-Palestinian side that just missed their own stewards.

After about half an hour, the pro-Israeli side burst into song and began dancing in spectacular fashion in a profusion of moving blue and white as the march continued to pass-by. This was repeated towards the end of the march which took about an hour to walk past the static protest.

I then endeavoured to catch up with the march and duly rejoined the protesters in Whitehall. Many, having reached their destination were already heading for home. Speeches from the stage were already underway and followed the now familiar themes albeit with the addition of the deaths caused by more recent events.

By 5PM the speeches had finished and apart from a short-lived ‘chantfest’ most of the protesters had left the area by 5.30. There were just two arrests and no outbreaks of disorder.

Officers weary of being abstracted for protest

Doubtless they’ll be further ‘local and ‘national’ pro-Palestinian protests in the future which will be increasingly opposed. Whilst no ‘mutual aid’ serials from elsewhere in the UK, were apparent on this occasion there is no doubt that Met officers policing these and other protests are weary of constantly being abstracted from their normal duties or having leave cancelled. They are equally weary of being accused of so-called ‘two-tier’ policing despite the fact that the levels of disorder have remained low from all sides during these major protests.

Where incidents of highway obstruction and criminal damage, such as recent attacks on Barclay’s Bank, have occurred due to splinter groups such as ‘Palestinian Action and ‘Youth Demand,’, arrests have been made. However, it remains to be seen whether judges, magistrates and juries will convict or whether we’ll see a similar situation as has occurred in trials of climate change activists who have ‘walked away’ despite the overwhelming evidence against them.

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

Category: OpsPublic Order