The long march: public order challenges for London’s police

It has been a challenging two weeks for those involved in policing London’s public order protests

Afghanistan: The London Protests.

As the situation worsened in Afghanistan, the 21st of August saw a protest by Afghans and those of Afghan descent in Central London. The march, from Speakers Corner to Parliament Square was passionate yet well ordered. Sensitive policing and excellent stewarding ensured that the potential flashpoint of Downing Street, which the protesters visited twice, saw chanting but no incidents.

Events days later, which included the terror attack on Kabul airport, made headlines across the world and inevitably there was another protest the following Saturday. Most of those present clearly had relatives in Afghanistan and some politely stated that they did not wish their photographs to be taken. Whilst I was present as the march assembled, before moving across Hyde Park to the anti-vaxx protest, I was later informed that this protest was noisy, dignified and well stewarded with participants complying at every stage with police directions which in turn resulted in minimal disruption.

Extinction rebellion on the streets.

On the same day as the first Afghan protest, a fortnight of Extinction Rebellion (XR) ‘actions’ was preceded by a Kill the Bill march from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square. The organisers would have been disappointed by the turnout which was around a thousand. The march along Whitehall, led by Extinction Rebellion drumming bands, was uneventful and they reached Trafalgar Square, minutes before the Afghan protesters arrived on their way to Parliament Square via Downing Street.

The first full day of XR actions focussed around the West End beginning with a Monday morning march from Trafalgar Square. Numbers however were significantly down as compared to the first two protests when ‘actions’ were taking place simultaneously at numerous venues including the blocking of two bridges.

On this occasion, their actions during the first day centred around  Leicester Square where they erected a giant pink table at a junction in St Martin’s Lane. Police cordons were placed around the area which sadly meant that on a busy evening, numerous businesses did not trade at all. The table was dismantled by police the following day. Other protesters who’d attached themselves to vans, trucks and the tarmac were released that night.

The rest of the week saw more actions but again the activist numbers or lack of them, meant that the disruption caused was no worse than those caused by other ‘run of the mill’ protests. Whitehall was blocked on the Tuesday morning but most protesters moved to the footways when threatened with arrest. Those who were locked together or attached to the road were ‘freed’ by specialist police units including one from Merseyside.

On the same day, the Queen Victoria monument by Buckingham Palace was damaged by some sort of red paint which stained the stone work; several arrests were made.

The ‘blood’ on the hands of bankers

Red paint was very much in evidence on Friday when XR protesters gathered in the City of London, by Bank Station; the theme was; ‘blood on the hands of bankers.’

City of London officers were assisted by a number of Met serials as the protesters went ‘walkabout.’ Twice, during the march through very quiet City streets, the protesters began running pursued by officers. The first sprint ended outside the Standard Chartered Bank building which was daubed in red paint and where two culprits were clearly visible waiting to be arrested.

A second sprint saw a race to the Guildhall where the daubing of red paint was even more extensive. The crowd then went on another walkabout which ended in Paternoster Square adjacent to St. Pauls. Speeches were followed by music and dancing but part of the surface of the square was covered with a mixture of soluble red paint thus giving the impression of some sort of bloodbath.

In the immediate aftermath of the Kabul Airport massacre with its associated horrendous footage, this stunt subsequently attracted criticism for being in poor taste.

Since then, ‘actions’ have continued. Inevitably there has been some criticism of ‘police violence.’ A female complained that an officer twisted her ‘glued’ wrist while the Guardian stated that police ‘trampled’ on protesters sat in the road as officers ran to stop the erection of another road-blocking structure.

In general, however, relations between police and XR protesters have been amicable with, unlike other protests, no verbal abuse or threats directed against officers. Doubtless actions will continue with further arrests and, at the time of writing, XR activists have blocked Tower Bridge with a caravan.

The lack of numbers, however, must be of concern to the XR organisers. Perhaps, with increased coverage of climate change in the media, former activists believe that the subject is now very much in the public domain and is actually being addressed by governments. Equally, perhaps, Covid is a factor in keeping numbers down.

Anti-vaxxers and the ITV incursion

As Extinction Rebellion activists were parading through the streets of London on Monday, a smaller gathering was taking place on the forecourt of King’s Cross Station. It was a semi-clandestine assembly in that there were few references on social media but clearly police were aware as both Met and BTP officers were present. The group stood around talking for almost an hour before setting off along the Gray’s Inn Road escorted by a handful of Met officers.

I and photo-journalists who had also heard of the event, concluded that the crowd’s destination was the ITV building in Gray’s Inn Road which houses ITN news. Following their abortive attempt to enter the BBC studios in White City that no longer exist, it was clear that the anti-Lockdown, anti-Vax movement felt that the coverage given to them by news channels was unfair. This had been demonstrated in June when BBC journalist, Nicholas Watt was chased and threatened by protesters as he left Downing Street.

I wondered whether to dial 999 as it seemed likely that the protesters intended to enter the building if they could. I then saw, some 50 yards beyond the entrance, several Met carriers and assumed those officers would be aware that it was likely the building would be targeted. No-one left the carriers as the crowd approached and I further assumed that there was no urgency as the doors would be locked.

However, they were not and I watched in astonishment as the protesters entered through the revolving door and another door which was adjacent to it. Clearly those in the building were alarmed and it seemed that secondary steel doors were shut as protesters filled the larger foyer space. After a few minutes, police emerged from the carriers and after standing outside also entered the building.

There was no resistance to police but no exodus of protesters either. The arrival of veteran broadcaster Jon Snow provoked a reaction from some of the protesters still outside. He didn’t attempt to enter but said to, his companion, that they should use a side entrance. They walked off and turned the corner but were pursued by a number of abuse hurling protesters.

Fortunately, two City of London police saw what was occurring and went to escort Mr Snow who safely disappeared into a side entrance.

Although some protesters left early, the occupation lasted for about an hour and half before protesters left and moved on to the Google offices near King’s Cross and finally Facebook. At both venues, the doors were firmly locked.

Before finishing in Leicester Square, the protesters walked around Soho with some hurling abuse at those dining ‘al fresco’ who eother wouldn’t take their leaflets or openly disagreed with them.

The long march

The incursion into the ITV building was a form of curtain-raiser to the main anti-Vaxx event on Saturday the 28th of August which involved a gathering at Hyde Park Corner and a march to Clapham Common. The numbers were somewhere between five and seven thousand which was relatively small compared to marches held in previous months but still enough to fill streets on the route.

The only incident of note came as the march passed a shop which had clearly been converted into a PCR testing centre. About half the procession went past before some began to notice the shop’s function. Protesters then began sticking anti-vaccine labels on the window and glass door with some trying the door attempting to gain entry. Inside a terrified girl could be seen frantically telephoning.

Eventually two female police liaison officers were alerted to the problem and stayed by the shop until the procession had passed.

The final destination of Clapham Common was eventually reached and most protesters went on to the common. Some however blocked the busy road before police politely asked them to move. Most did but several familiar faces did not. One group, the worse for drink and who had earlier been chanting ‘paedophile protectors’ at police, sat in the road, eating sandwiches and refusing polite requests to move. Their conversations clearly indicated that they wanted to be arrested, based on the Supreme Court ruling which seems to indicate that blocking the road is a legitimate form of protest. Eventually police left them to it and, as they weren’t too far from the kerb, traffic simply drove round them.

Another group congregated on the footway and spilled into the road. Again, these were regular protesters and it was from this group that disorder occurred which was captured on footage as police arrested an individual who was apparently wanted for offences allegedly committed at a previous demonstration.

And now

XR however, will continue their protest for the remainder of the week and two further protests at the beginning of September could pose additional challenges for the Met and their colleagues in the City police and BTP. On Saturday the far right plan to protest outside the Home Office in Croydon against ‘cross channel’ migrants while the following Wednesday anti-vaxxers will attempt to blockade Parliament.

So far, so good for public order policing although it’s unlikely that any praise will be forthcoming from the media or politicians from across the spectrum.

Chris Hobbs is a former Met Special Branch officer who has been following the protests in London since the start of the pandemic restrictions as an observer for Police Oracle  

Category: Ops

Tags: British Transport PoliceCity of London PoliceLondonMetropolitan Police ServiceNon-territorialPublic Order