The police has apologised over the arrest of the republican group

Yes cannot win really - too little or too much…

The rape alarms were taken from volunteers. Monday was supposed to be encouraging volunteers, fine way to encourage volunteering
I've seen police horses at Olympia where there is music loudly blaring over the speakers and a huge arena full of people ch3ring and clapping. Those horses jump through hoops on fire. Not once but many times, and through paper covered hoops, now the horses don't know they are paper, they must look to the horses like a solid wall when they see them, a few piddling little rape alarms over the sound of huge military bands wasn't going to spook them, the most bombproof horses will have been chosen

I was witnessed this , honestly the police acted in the correct manner. People in the vicinity felt vulnerable and intimated. It was getting out of hand and a decision was made due to that.

It's good to hear from someone who was actually there Juicylucy.

One of the well trained horses being ridden along side the carriage was jittery oodles and has been said on this thread several times, the police were damned if they did and had there been an incident, damned if they didn't.

I agree GANNET you can't really win too little or too much.

Thanks Juicylucy. It’s good to hear a first hand account. And yes, Smileless, it wouldn’t have taken much to spook that horse - and there frequently is one such on these occasions, no matter how well trained.

What it comes down to is this.
The republicans were there to peacefully disrupt the proceedings. They admit that.
We have no way of knowing what their idea of peaceful means.
Evidently beheading the Royal Family counts as peaceful to republicans.
The police are damned if they do something and damned if they don’t.
I’m glad they did something.
Its always the same for the police. e.g. the occasional police presence by our school to deter parents from parking are slanged for doing so. When a child (of a protesting parent) was knocked down, the police were slanged for not being there.

The police are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Evidently beheading counts as peaceful to Republicans. That's a sweeping statement.
On these threads I have seen royalists say utterly unpleasant things about the royals, Diana in particular, should I be saying that all royalists treat the royal family with contempt.

No Galaxy, I should have said some republicans . . .
but that will be the republican action that is associated with the event.

I think the police probably erred on the side of caution. I do respect people's right for peaceful protest. But there would have been hell to pay if someone had, for example, thrown a firecracker at a horse and people had got injured. Given the size of the crowds, it wouldn't have taken much to cause chaos and harm. And there were lots of children around. I think public safety had to come first.

Thank you Allsorts! Why do people (republicans you mean) stay in a country with a monarchy …well I’ll tell you….. it’s because I was born in England …I love England…and I hope to die and be buried in England! I did not vote for a monarchy or ask for it! It’s for them to go ….NOT me or the Republican ( growing) army of people who wonder why this servile nonsense is still going on!!

…..and as I obviously did not watch the weekend of nonsense …I spent it volunteering at one of the growing number of food banks…..in England…..in the third millennium….trying to help the people that can’t afford to put a meal on their tables!!!

ALANaV

Whilst a right to protest appears now to be enshrined in British law ......OTHERS HAVE RIGHTS AS WELL .....the right to enjoy a nationwide event which is part of our history ......the Police acted in the best interests of those who went to the Coronation for a peaceful celebration of our culture .....I am getting really fed up with this 'What about me generation'..............growing up in an austere Britain in the 50's no, we had little food, little heating, although jobs were mostly available and hardly anyone shirked working ! My dad used to call them wasters ha ha ....but we grew up with discipline and rules and we respected others......what on earth happened ...............perhaps all us over a certain age should make a few banners and start gluing ourselves to the road ......(not that I would ever be able to get down there in the first place !) so whilst your rights to protest may be law...where are OUR rights to a peaceful life ...................too much attention is paid to these people ...they want to do something useful with their lives !

Crikey

Well! Go ALANaV!

The police did NOT apologise for arresting 60 people - they apologised for arresting 6 of them. Those who were pre-emptively arrested were done so due to intelligence as to what exactly they planned to do - clue, it wasn't to stand peacefully waving banners and shouting a few slogans. There were plenty of peaceful protesters around who were NOT arrested. Intelligence suggested there were plans to spook the horses, amongst other things - which could have caused serious injury or even death to said horses, people in the procession and members of the public. Is anyone seriously suggesting that this should not have been prevented?

How do you know what may or may not spook a horse at any given time or day MaizieD?

It's been pointed out more than once on this thread that the one of the horses being ridden next to the carriage was jittery at one point and took some handling.

There were I think 60 arrests and there has been an apology for 6 so presumably there's more to the arrests of the remaining 54 than we are privy too.

I've no idea how many protesters there were on the day but think it's reasonable to assume that the 60 arrested were a very small percentage of the total, and is hardly an example of draconian and heavy handed legislation.

Rather sad to see that there are so many on Grandsnet who feel that arresting protesters because they might be thinking about doing something illegal or just inconveniencing others is perfectly all right. I thought this was only true in the U.S and other third world countries.

Is the US a third world country now?

Indeed Quichette, so sad, and so so Un-British.

So un-British to try to protect innocent bystanders from perceived harm?

Quichette

Rather sad to see that there are so many on Grandsnet who feel that arresting protesters because they might be thinking about doing something illegal or just inconveniencing others is perfectly all right. I thought this was only true in the U.S and other third world countries.

Is Switzerlabd a third world country now? I always thought it was the epitome of a civilised society.
They are tough on protestors there.
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2021/06/switzerland-dangerous-yes-vote-gives-police-sweeping-powers-to-target-people-including-children-without-charge-or-trial

People are arrested or fired with tear gas in France for protesting about pension changes.
Tear gas is used in Italy to disperse protestors
Ditto in Germany and Spain.
Belgium police use tear gas and water cannon.
Etc.
Australian police have been very heavy handed even with very elderly, peaceful protestors.

I think our police are relatively restrained in comparison.

I agree Callistemon. And of course innocent bystanders suffer from the tear gas and water cannon treatment - not just protesters. I remember when BJ was London Mayor he purchased some water cannons but the police weren’t allowed to use them.

Very good post Callistemon.

I’m afraid that sadly some people will just jump on any excuse to criticise Britain and indeed our police. The EU has many countries where dissent is much more harshly dealt with; the riots in France only weeks ago are a prime example. It was the right thing to do to prevent people and horses from being injured during the coronation. I know there are many dissenters on here but they are not supporting the rights of the majority to go about their business peacefully (in this case watching the procession) nor the right a of the majority to remain uninjured. Incidentally there were many protesters out and about and not arrested, waving placards and enjoying their legitimate right to protest.

For a lack of rights to protest, think Hong Kong!

Good posts Callistemon21 and maddyone

Considering the high numbers of people in this country who don't want a monarchy, especially as it is right now, I think the few people with placards was a very small thing. We all do still have the right to our opinions in this country, thank God! And I too am horrified by some of the comments here.

Personally I think a completely silent demonstration would have been much more impactful..and I wonder if they had been silent would they still have been arrested?

What would people prefer... to live somewhere with a totalitarian regime where people are afraid to express a difference of opinion, to the ruler of the day, even in private as their own families may turn them in, or the right to be a small group of people at a public event who speak out?

I know which I prefer!