- Protesters released after coronation
- The arrest was meant to spare royal embarrassment, Republic says
- The police vowed a low tolerance for disturbances
- UK minister says police operation has struck the right balance
LONDON, May 7 (Portal) – Anti-monarchists on Sunday criticized surveillance on King Charles’ coronation as stubborn, saying there was no longer a right to peaceful protest in Britain after dozens of protesters were arrested and jailed into the night .
Police arrested Graham Smith, the leader of the Republic group, and dozens of others in central London as thousands of royal fans gathered in the capital for the event on Saturday, saying their duty to prevent disruption outweighs the right to Protest.
Republic said the release of members began late Saturday night after nearly 16 hours of confinement.
“This was a brutal action that had the appearance of a pre-arranged arrest that would have taken place regardless of the evidence or our actions. The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists,” Smith said in a statement.
“These arrests weren’t about saving people from harm, they were about saving the king from embarrassment.”
The London Metropolitan Police announced on Sunday evening that a total of 64 arrests had been made on Saturday for offenses such as breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
One had been charged under the Public Order Act while others had been released on bail.
Police said on Saturday they understood public concern following the arrests but said they acted after receiving information that protesters were determined to disrupt the coronation process.
London Police Chief Mark Rowley warned on Friday that police would take action if protesters tried to hinder people’s “enjoyment and celebration” and said there was a “very low tolerance” for disturbance.
Police have been given further powers to contain protests under a new police law passed last year and a public order law that came into force on 3 May.
In another incident, a dispute broke out after police arrested three people and seized a number of rape alerts on Saturday morning. Police cited intelligence information that there were plans to disrupt the procession with the alarms, but Westminster Local Council expressed concern that trained volunteers working on a night security program had been arrested.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that our Night Stars volunteers were arrested overnight,” Councilor Aicha Less said, adding that the volunteers were offered support.
“We are working with the Metropolitan Police to determine exactly what happened.”
Wes Streeting, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Labor Party, declined to comment on specific arrests pending investigation but said London police should be responsible for whether their overall approach to the coronation was proportionate.
Tens of thousands of people turned out to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla as they rode in a state carriage back to Buckingham Palace after Saturday’s service at Westminster Abbey.
Not everyone watching was there to cheer for Charles. Hundreds of Republicans booed and waved banners that read “Not My King”.
Culture Minister Lucy Frazer said she had great faith in the police, adding that she was right to clamp down on an event that could have raised national security questions.
“I think overall (the police) have managed to get that balance right,” Frazer told Sky News.
Reporting by Alistair Smout Editing by Frances Kerry
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