Arrested for holding a banner - can't ruin a big day, can we...

[cakeorwine]

'Not My King' protesters unfurl flags and shout anti-monarchy slogans on Coronation route | Daily Mail Online

Looks like the police are taking full advantage of their new powers.

It’s clear when you have a length of chain and a padlock or a bike lock at a protest what your intentions are. Anything you needed to lock up as transport (bike, motorcycle) and then walk to join a protest in Trafalgar Square, you would have done so and left it behind. You only need those items in Trafalgar Square for one thing only, and that is now a criminal offence.

I don’t understand. Person A carries a prohibited item to a protest with illegal intent to use it and with the intent to get arrested. If they intended to get arrested, they obviously must have flaunted it in front of the police “look what I got ha ha, you going to arrest me?”

How do you know they intended to use it? Could have popped to b&q on the way and planned to paint the hallway when they got home. (I'm being facetious but the idea that someone could be arrested for what someone else assumes you might do is frightening to be honest).

why dont they drag climate change protestors off the road then-thats a disruption isnt it

In theory they now can, but whether it'll happen - or if it does, so instantly - remains to be seen

Ditto protests from those with a protected characteristic; I wonder if the "quite right too" views would be quite so numerous then?

So you don’t want the police to stop turning a blind eye to stuff? You think that past corruption means we absolutely should have present and future corruption. Fuck me indeed.

My initial thought was that Republic had done this deliberately (made sure they were arrested) so as to make a bigger impact from their protest.

There were still plenty of people in the crowd who were protesting against monarchy, and the cameras made sure to pick them out.

The new laws are bloody concerning, though.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/13/as-the-sun-set-they-came-in-solidarity-and-to-pay-tribute-to-sarah-everard

But they don’t, interesting choices they make isn’t it

They couldn’t then, they can now. This is the first protest since the new law came into effect.

So, you’re ok with one rule for them and another for the public?

Interesting what the BBC about crowds being smaller than expected. Suggests Charles is not as popular as the Queen (although the rain would have put people off too).

From the BBC

"The Metropolitan Police confirmed several arrests were made at demonstrations in the capital.
The force said "lock-on devices" - which protesters can use to secure themselves to things like railings - had been seized.
But Republic said officers had "misconstrued" straps meant to secure their signs in place."

Police use their common sense all the time. It's not turning a blind eye or corruption. It's using their common sense to deescalate situations.

It’s bad. As others have said on there, this is on the government passing two deeply troubling acts, the Policing Act, 2022 and now just v recently the Public Order Bill, 2023 which both curb the right to protest. The UNCHR issued a press release a few days ago on the Public Order Bill that has just passed saying:

“The Public Order Bill, which has now been passed by Parliament in the United Kingdom, is deeply troubling legislation that is incompatible with the UK’s international human rights obligations regarding people’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Thursday.”

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/04/un-human-rights-chief-urges-uk-reverse-deeply-troubling-public-order-bill

This is the first protest since the new law came into effect

It is, yes - and whenever there's another and police don't step in quite so fast (or even not at all) people are likely to want to know why not

Which could get quite interesting ...

It is very worrying that people are calling everyday objects prohibited items.

Whether the police think you are going to use them is irrelevant they aren't illegal and the police thinking you might commit a crime, should never be enough to arrest you.

No wonder there is no trust in the Met and the general police force they are a utter joke.

What are you on about?

If police don’t step in, if

Secure their signs to what? People’s hands?

love Ian Hislop

48% is a tiny minority? That's how many people are against the royal family now.

It's not a niche position any more.

Anyway, if you arrest people for peaceful protest, in this scenario, surely in the future it makes people less likely to work with police AND actually means there is no incentive to protest peacefully other than your own conscience. IMO, it makes violent protest more likely, because if you're going to be arrested anyway.

And BTW no official reason has been given for their arrest.

There is no legal right to enjoy a specific event. In a democracy, there should be a right to protest.

A political party will never be able to get rid of the monarchy.

Noted.

@HadalyEve you haven't answered my question about what country an averagelying wealthy 64yo its no family ties can move to easily. As you insisted it's easy to emigrate Im sure you have some suggestions seeing as you think I shouldjust leave the country.

Incorrect.

A man was led away and detained for holding up a blank piece of A4 paper when K&W went on walkabout a few months back. There is video footage of it.

A group that volunteer with the Westminster Night Safety team were reportedly arrested by the MET Police at 2 am and held for 14 hours. Kept in handcuffs for 3 hours. And their offence? Being in possession of rape alarms to hand out to women.