Met Police to deploy extra officers in Jewish and Muslim communities during London weekend protests
The force said it would target deployments in areas with "significant" Jewish or Muslim communities to ensure events can take place safely.
Friday 17 November 2023 16:58, UK
The Metropolitan Police will deploy extra officers in areas with "significant" Jewish and Muslim communities ahead of protests in the capital this weekend.
The force has said it will focus on ensuring events that traditionally occur the week after Remembrance Sunday can take place safely and securely without disruption.
Among the events are a Remembrance parade and ceremony organised by the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (AJEX) at the Cenotaph on Sunday, to honour thousands of Jewish soldiers who fought for freedom.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are also planned, together with a Just Stop Oil march around lunchtime in the South Bank area.
Police will also focus on smaller gatherings in boroughs outside central London, in the hope of reassuring people who "continue to experience increased uncertainty and fear" as a result of tensions sparked by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The Met unveiled its plans for a "significant policing operation" after a series of weekend protests demanding an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Clashes on Armistice Day last Saturday saw dozens of far-right protesters arrested, with more than 100 pro-Palestine demonstrators also detained.
The force was criticised for not arresting pro-Palestine supporters who scaled the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner on Wednesday evening.
However, Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said that while the police recognised climbing the monument was "unfortunate" and "inflammatory in certain ways", it was not illegal.
Commander Karen Findlay, who is leading this weekend's operation, said: "While there is no single large central protest event on Saturday, our policing priorities remain the same across the local events that are due to take place.
"We are here to ensure that people can exercise their right to protest but make sure that is done lawfully, and that unreasonable disruption to the lives of other Londoners is kept to a minimum."
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She said officers will "intervene swiftly" when they see an offence happening - as she vowed "there is no place for hate in London".
"Hate crime will not be tolerated," she added.
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Referring to the protesters who climbed the Royal Artillery Memorial, Commander Findlay said: "There will be situations where the actions of protesters are clearly inappropriate or disrespectful."
She continued: "At a minimum they [officers] are to intervene decisively when they see behaviour which is obviously disrespectful, using their skills in dealing with the public as they do every day."