Youthful activists test the Met

Chris Hobbs follows another Youth Demand where activists pre-announced planned disruption and were duly arrested.

Prior to the State Opening of Parliament, Youth Demand stated on social media that they would intend to disrupt the event. They announced a meeting point at Victoria Gardens Embankment which I managed to misread as Victoria Station and thus missed the first arrests.

I was told that there was a significant police presence at the gardens and that arrests were being made. On my belated arrival several individuals were in handcuffs and as further arrests were made it became clear that all the sixty or so individuals present were to be arrested.

The protesters were sat on the ground effectively surrounded by officers. One group of protesters were led away, further officers arrived and, once those arrested had been removed by police transport, those officers went into the crowd, had quiet words and then further arrests were made.

I thought that the ‘quiet words’ were designed to give protesters a chance to remove themselves but that wasn’t the case. Most individuals quietly accepted their fate but some vociferously made their feelings clear; one female objected to being arrested by male officers. The arrests were carried out with great care and consideration but Youth Demand, whilst commenting on events led one of their posts with the heading; ‘RACISM, POLICE VIOLENCE and INTIMIDATION.’

Those of us observing events noticed a young girl who appeared to be in her late teens, being visibly upset after her arrest. She was sitting next to the arresting officer on a wall awaiting transport. She clearly didn’t anticipate the possibility of being arrested but was treated with both kindness and consideration by the arresting officer who, in my view, rightly opted not to use his handcuffs.

A statement by the Met later stated that 10 protesters had been arrested in Horseferry Road and another 33 during the abovementioned operation in Victoria Embankment Gardens.

Republicans jeer, crowds cheer

After all the protesters had been removed, those observing events moved to Westminster where the government’s plans for the future were being laid out to the nation by the King. The crowds were significant but not uncomfortably so. Clearly visible were the yellow flags, banners and t-shirts of the Republic movement whose jeers could just about be heard above the cheers of the majority as the King’s carriage made its way back along Parliament Street and Whitehall.

The event was over and another successful policing public order operation completed but the second half of a challenging summer awaits.

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

Category: OpsPublic Order