Laws giving police greater powers to detain protesters must be repealed, says anti-monarchy campaigner following coronation arrests.
An anti-monarchy activist named Graham Smith arrested with 64 other protestors during a demonstration at the coronation ceremony. The police used new laws under the Public Order Act to arrest the protestors, which Graham Smith claims were used to undermine their protest. He has demanded that the laws be repealed.
The use of these new laws has caused anger among the protestors and the general public. The Met Police arrested and removed republicans, animal welfare activists, and an environmental campaigner from the streets hours before the coronation of Charles Windsor was due to start.
Republic leader arrested for protesting against new laws
Graham Smith believes that the police stopped them because of the new laws that rushed in last week, which gave them greater powers to stop protestors on flimsy pretexts. He is the leader of Republic, a campaign group that aims to replace the monarchy with an elected head of state.
According to Mr. Smith, a new law has passed in our country which has taken away our right to protest. He believes that now we can only protest if senior police officers and politicians give us permission. He thinks that the police officers were under a lot of pressure from the politicians to act this way.
Mr. Smith also accused the police of being aggressive and uncooperative. He said that they should feel ashamed of their behavior. He arrested a few hours before the coronation for carrying placards that read “Not My King”.
Labour’s health minister faces criticism over refusal to promise repeal of Public Order Act
Mr. Smith disappointed to hear that the Labour Party has no plans to repeal this law. He believes that this is a disgrace and the law should removed.
Labour’s health minister, Andrew Gwynne, refused to promise that his party would repeal the Public Order Act if they won the election. As a result, many people criticized him, including one commenter who suggested that those who support the monarchy should have silenced the protesters.
Controversy erupts over detention of female volunteers for providing rape alarms
Moreover, there is growing outrage over the detention of three female volunteers who were part of a program run by Westminster Council. The volunteers provided rape alarms to help protect vulnerable women.
The police confiscated some alarms during an operation and said that these could have used to cause disruption during the coronation. They tried to justify the arrests made during the operation based on this reason.
Green Party member expresses concerns over arrests made by Metropolitan Police
Caroline Russell, who chairs the London Assembly’s police and crime committee and is a member of the Green Party, expressed her concerns about the arrests. She said that the police have some explaining to do.
Caroline pointed out that the arrested people were volunteers who were helping others by distributing flip-flops to those who were struggling to walk in high heels and also providing rape alarms. She found it strange that such people taken into custody.
It’s surprising that they caught by the Metropolitan Police. How did it happen? It seems strange.
Ms. Russell plans to ask the police about the arrests. She stated: “We meet every two weeks with the police and crime committee to question the Mayor, Mopac, and the Metropolitan Police. I’m sure members from all parties will want to get answers to their questions.”
Police Commander defends arrest of protesters at Windsor event
Karen Findlay, a commander in the Metropolitan Police, acknowledged concerns about the protesters’ arrest but defended the actions of the Scotland Yard, saying: “Our responsibility is to act in a proportional manner according to the applicable legislation.”
Police arrested 64 people on Saturday, but only four of them have charged with crimes. One of the suspects accused of a public order offence that motivated by religious hatred, and the other two accused of possessing illegal drugs.
The police took action on Saturday to stop protesters from disrupting public events attended by members of the Windsor family. During one of these events, a man arrested for shouting at Andrew Windsor, who known for his association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The man allegedly said, “You’re a sick old man.”
The arrest of anti-monarchy campaigners during the recent coronation celebrations has reignited the debate about the limits of police powers in controlling protests. While some argue that such laws are necessary to maintain public order, others see them as an infringement on the right to free speech and assembly. The case of the arrested campaigner highlights the need for a critical reevaluation of these laws, particularly in light of the growing public concern about civil liberties and human rights. As the debate continues, it is important for lawmakers and law enforcement agencies to strike a balance between maintaining public order and upholding the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens.
