Article
Public order challenges continue for the Met

Chris Hobbs follows the latest Gaza War-related protests in London and says a rethink on banning some protests may be necessary.
This would be the third time I’ve been ‘outed’ when out and about on a protest but it would be the first time my arrest has been demanded. It began in Marsham Street where the Al Quds march was assembling, with the theme being very much the current war in Gaza. The Al Quds march has always been controversial with its alleged links to Iran and, on previous occasions before they became outlawed, the display of Hezbollah flags and those of other terrorist organisations. The major pro-Palestinian marches in London are normally organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and other allied organisations.
There had already been an incident just around the corner from Marsham Street. A car sporting Palestinian flags was stopped by police and a search of the vehicle was underway. This attracted the attention of press photographers who found themselves being obstructed and intimidated by march officials.
Officers conducting the search were also being shouted at by the same march officials. It was, according to one individual, a fishing expedition and then that same individual walked directly towards an officer yelling at him to ‘get out of his way.’ It was therefore rather unfortunate that a bag of what appeared to be cannabis was discovered together with potentially actionable posters which showed the current Israeli Prime Minister morphing into Hitler. The driver was duly arrested and placed in a carrier.
Minutes later, I was rather surprised to be approached and shouted at by an elderly gentleman. I smiled at him asked, what the problem was and placed my hand briefly on his arm. He screamed assault at which point I became aware that he was not alone. ‘Arrest him,’ came the cry from others, but fortunately the incident had been witnessed by a nearby officer who stepped in and made it clear that my arrest was as likely as that of the Home Secretary who presumably was busily engaged in the nearby building.
’We know who you are,’ hissed a girl resplendent in a keffiyeh scarf worn by many who support the Palestinian cause. ‘You take photos of us.’ Well, I couldn’t deny that but then, of course, I wasn’t alone. Also I never subscribed to the hype that surrounded them in terms of being a hate filled mob although I’ve always acknowledged there were pockets of undesirable elements. Here I was actually encountering some. By this time a crowd had gathered and it was clear that the officer would be grateful if I absented myself which I did.
However, it wasn’t this incident which set this march apart from the major events organised by the Palestinian Solidarity campaign. The tone via the loudspeaker system was far more strident and the appeal for a ‘peaceful,’ march was the most aggressive that I’ve heard.
Pro-Israeli counter-protest in Parliament Square
I opted to walk along the march route to Parliament Square where the rival pro-Israeli counter protest was gathering. Around 200 activists had assembled with many bearing Israeli flags and several union jacks. Unsurprisingly, there was a significant police presence and the tactic was to keep the pro-Palestinian marchers to the far side of the road by Parliament itself with a police escort; steel barriers had already been placed in front of Parliament Square with a strong cordon of police lining the barriers in question. The side roads around the square were also cordoned off as the counter-protesters waited.
The march appeared in the distance progressing along Millbank and all heads turned towards what was an intimidating albeit slow moving sight. As the march neared Parliament Square, tensions rose and soon insults were being exchanged. Initially stewards, as was the case during the previous Saturday, managed to keep the march moving past the static pro-Israel counter protest.
“Terrorist supporters off our streets,” was the most heard chant from the Israeli side while the pro-Palestinian marchers went through their usual repertoire. As the march progressed, it became clear that many of the more youthful marchers did not want to move along into Whitehall. The chanting and the gestures became more hostile but the officers escorting the march provided the initial barrier which the baying crowd could possibly have breached, but then would have been faced with the line of officers in front of the steel barriers and then the barriers themselves.
The scene would be familiar to most football fans who do tend, however, to keep moving. In this case however several hundred remained hurling insults for twenty minutes. The strong police presence with mounted police and TSG Units close-by meant any attempt by the pro-Palestinian element to storm their rivals was doomed to fail.
However, whereas one group of football supporters attacking rival supporters during a similar scenario might just attract the brief attention of some local or even national news outlets, several hundred pro-Palestinian activists attacking a contingent of some 200 mainly Jewish pro-Israel supporters would have a cataclysmic effect across the UK and grab tension raising headlines around the world.
Several pro-Palestinian supporters did enter Parliament Square itself but were spotted and confronted by the pro-Israeli activists. One encounter involved an intense debate but no violence. Other encounters involving one or two protesters saw the police summonsed as the interlopers were harangued, but again no violence.
The march eventually reached the area opposite Downing Street where there was a screen and stage erected for speakers. Many of the marchers went home but all seemed in order until, and missed by me, police moved into the crowd and made several arrests. Two of those arrests were of the main protagonists who had been baiting police as the flag- bearing vehicle was being searched before the march commenced. It would seem that the Israeli flag was being burnt, hence the police intervention.
That clashes between the rival groups did not happen nor was likely to, was due to the Met’s textbook policing operation but what was disturbing was the whole volatile tone of the protest which was on a different level to the those staged by the PSC.
Before those PSC marches begin there are positive, amicable relations between the march organisers and officers. The stewarding is effective as was evidenced the previous Saturday when there was pro-Israeli opposition for the first time. Stewards kept the march moving past the Israeli protest and there were only a couple of minor incidents. On this occasion the stewarding was ineffectual and indeed the deputy steward was extremely hostile to photo-journalists and police during the aforementioned car search.
Thoughts re banning
Speaking as someone who was against banning those pro-Palestinian marches, my ‘swingometer,’ has, as a result of Friday’s march, moved to within a short distance of the red zone but it isn’t quite there yet. At present, such an event can only be called off if very serious disorder is anticipated, such as that seen during the poll tax riot or the disorders of 2011,
However, perhaps now there is a case for that threshold being lowered in respect of the probable consequences if violence does break out between rival groups to the extent that community cohesion is adversely affected in many parts of the UK.
I have long been extremely reluctant to support the curbing of protests. Now, frankly, given the current tensions, uncertainty is beginning to creep in.
One factor to be considered are the consequences if such protests are banned yet rival protagonists still materialise in their hundreds or perhaps in their thousands.
Another positive aspect of this Al Quds policing operation was the role played by Met Comms both before, during and after the protest. Full explanations were the order of the day. What is now needed is consistency.
Met ‘Comms’ and ULEZ
At last week’s Palestine protest, a carrier acting as the Met’s prisoner transport was subjected to a sit-down protest which prevented it from moving. After an hour, to the triumphant delight of the protesters, it was announced that the prisoner had been released. This incurred the subsequent wrath of others, especially the far right with allegations, yet again of two- tier policing. We waited for some sort of explanation from the Met. There was none
Then, on Saturday there was a ULEZ protest in Tooting. Whilst ULEZ activists have been responsible for causing damage to ULEZ cameras, their protests have been trouble- free with very little animosity towards police. On this occasion a decision was taken that this protest should not take place and after warnings to disperse were ignored, seven protesters were arrested under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act.
This may well have been justified: In October last year, ULEZ protesters demonstrated outside the home of Mayor Khan which is close to where this protest was taking place. It may be that the Met had obtained intelligence that history would be repeated and there is a general acceptance that the homes of political figures should not be targeted.
However, whilst there may have been some press ‘lines,’ there was no public explanation as to what had occurred and why. As a result, there was a torrent of criticism while the far-right had a field day for the second Saturday running using the familiar theme of ‘two tier,’ policing.
As has been previously stated, the organisers of pro-Israeli rallies have ensued the assistance of groups from the far-right. This weekend, a group, often described as far-right by those on the left, intend to hold a counter-protest to a proposed ‘local’ London pro-Palestinian march. This may be in addition to a pro-Israeli counter-protest. Pro-Israeli activists have stated that they will be on the streets at every future London pro-Palestinian protest.
Major challenges to the Met’s public order policing will continue and in the current febrile atmosphere, Met ‘comms,’ need to be consistently, at the very top of their game.
Chris Hobbs is a former Special Branch officers who has been following protests as an observer for Police Oracle
Category: OpsPublic Order
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