A row erupted after the Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on a pro-Palestine march in central London this Saturday amid public safety concerns.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said he listened to businesses, transport bosses and faith leaders about the impact of an 18th rally organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign since Hamas’ murderous attacks of October 7 and the Israeli’s response in Gaza.
Officers will use the Public Order Act to delay a PSC procession called “End the Genocide – Stop Arming Israel” starting in Regent Street and ending in Kensington Road with a rally by one hour and 45 minutes.
The march – commencing not before 2.30pm – must conclude by 6pm or 30 minutes after the conclusion of speeches, whichever is earlier.
DAC Adelekan said two pre-existing annual events are already taking place which are likely to draw more than 20,000 people to the area.
London mayor Sadiq Khan’s free celebration of black culture, Black on the Square, starts at noon in Trafalgar Square, while March For Life UK, an anti-abortion demonstration, ends at Parliament Square around 4pm.
But the PSC hit out saying restrictions were imposed “without explanation or rationale” and would cause “major” travel disruption to thousands of protesters who planned to come from outside London.
Director Ben Jamal urged a rethink, adding: “As they have publicly acknowledged, the marches have been overwhelmingly peaceful with no threat of major public disorder.
“To make changes to the start time seems to us to be a tactic designed to deter people from attending.
“All bar one of the 17 previous marches have assembled at 12pm without issue and started no later than 1pm.”
Mr Adelekan said: “We understand the strength of feeling around conditions on protests and always work hard to strike the balance between minimising the disruption to the public, businesses and community groups with the right to peacefully protest.
“We have worked with the PSC for weeks to agree plans and made efforts to explain the number of challenges which form part of this decision-making process.
“We have negotiated with them around a number of proposed conditions and made several alternative offers.
“We fully appreciate the scale of the demonstrations, with participants attending from across the country, and recognise that a delay in start time may inconvenience people. However, these changes are necessary to balance the wider impact to those who live, work and visit London.”
