The police has apologised over the arrest of the republican group

All down to rubbish legislation
Whitemark - as I said, the law.

Wyllow3
We are walking onto the future asleep and full of whatiffereies, as this new law could curtail all peaceful protest. Step one towards a tyrannical state.

Yes. The Agenda.
If people think it wont affect them, whatever side of things they are on. then they are mistaken.

MaizieD
There was never any intention for the protest to be anything but peaceful.

The road is paved with good intentions. Or some such phrase.
That of course, could never be guaranteed. Whatever anyone says or thinks.

I’m horrifies that you support such an anti-democratic and authoritarian piece of legislation.

As previously stated we'll never know what might have happened had they been allowed their 'peaceful protest'. The police had to make decisions based on a huge number of 'what ifs'. I'm glad that the coronation and all that it involved went ahead smoothly.
I'm horrified that some posters can't see how nuanced a situation it was.

Thank you for the summary WWM.

If you were a "terrorist" of course you wouldn't arrive with megaphones and placards announcing yourselves.

You'd dress as if you were celebrating the event and remain concealed until your planned action took place.

We are walking onto the future asleep and full of whatiffereies, as this new law could curtail all peaceful protest. Step one towards a tyrannical state.

eazybee

The group I saw on the television news were not peaceful; they were chanting 'Not our king' as the state carriage passed by, punching the air with their fists in rhythm and their faces contorted with hate.
Disturbing, intimidating and reminiscent of Moseley's Blackshirts.

Oh, for heaven's sake. 'Peaceful' has never meant 'silent'.

Foxygloves

I go along with the “damned if they do, and damned if they don’t”
There was a heavy handedness to their reaction but the potential consequences of the protests are terrifying.
Thinking of recent Stop Oil and XR protesters’ actions- what if protestors had employed these so-called” peaceful” methods such as-
Glueing themselves to the road in front of the processions
“Slow walking” in front of the horses/troops
Throwing paint
Obstructing access to the Abbey

It’s no longer a case of waving a few placards and banners or shouting slogans. There might have been worse than eggs thrown and it’s too late to shake your head after the event.
Factor in the very much more sinister and deadly risks of terrorist action lurking behind genuine posters and it is clear that the security measures involved must have been a nightmare

But none of that was going to happen for heavens sake.

The police knew it. They had, had months of talks with Republic and everything had been agreed and understood.

It is nonsense to suggest otherwise, and the police have said that they recognise this.

The legislation is badly written and anti-democratic.

The group I saw on the television news were not peaceful; they were chanting 'Not our king' as the state carriage passed by, punching the air with their fists in rhythm and their faces contorted with hate.
Disturbing, intimidating and reminiscent of Moseley's Blackshirts.

NanaDana

I fully support the right to peaceful protest, provided it is non-violent, non-disruptive, and does not become a "public nuisance". So yes, it was most definitely a tough call for the Met on the day, for a once in a lifetime event for which tens of thousands of people had turned out and hoped to enjoy without undue interference. It appears that some protesters were carrying "lock-on devices" with which they could secure themselves to railings etc., plus, rape alarms were being distributed, which were going to be used to attempt to frighten the many horses involved in the parade. So in some ways for the police it was always going to be a case of "damned if you do, and damned if you don't". On that basis, I can quite understand why they may have erred on the side of being over-zealous, as to under-react could have threatened public safety. I suspect that the tens of thousands who turned out to enjoy the day would agree. Peaceful protest.. no problem. Anything beyond that, no thanks.

I don't know where you got your information from, ND but it's a fine example of truth distortion.

Have you read the police's apology?

The 'lock on' devices were a couple of padlocks which the police recognise in their apology as being carried for entirely innocent purposes.

The rape alarms belonged to some night time safety group volunteers, who actually work regularly with the police! I assume that they regularly carry them for their own protection. They weren't handed out', they were regular equipment. The group had nothing at all to do with any protest group, but were held in custody for 16 hours...

Police horses are trained to be 'bombproof'. Rape alarms wouldn't bother them in the slightest, nor would they have bothered the military horses.

There was never any intention for the protest to be anything but peaceful.

When this draconian and heavy handed legislation was passed people were warning that it was wide open to abuse. So it has proved to be.

I think it would be amazing if Charles were to express some disappointment at the police action.. after all, isn't the monarch supposed to be a defender of our freedoms... including freedom to disagree and freedom to protest..😆

I'm not even anti monarchy, BTW. Just anti repressive authoritarianism. And horrified by the attitudes of some posters.

I go along with the “damned if they do, and damned if they don’t”
There was a heavy handedness to their reaction but the potential consequences of the protests are terrifying.
Thinking of recent Stop Oil and XR protesters’ actions- what if protestors had employed these so-called” peaceful” methods such as-
Glueing themselves to the road in front of the processions
“Slow walking” in front of the horses/troops
Throwing paint
Obstructing access to the Abbey

It’s no longer a case of waving a few placards and banners or shouting slogans. There might have been worse than eggs thrown and it’s too late to shake your head after the event.
Factor in the very much more sinister and deadly risks of terrorist action lurking behind genuine posters and it is clear that the security measures involved must have been a nightmare

Aveline

I'd rather a thousand times that police apologised for removal of potentially disruptive elements than that they were apologising for doing too little too late if protesters had led to fights and dangerous incidents. It was a no win situation for the police. Damned if they did and damned if they didn't.
We'll never know what might have happened. The protesters say that they
would have been be peaceful but they would say that wouldn't they?!

So you are content to have an authoritarian anti-democratic law, that even the police feel very uncomfortable with?

R4.

All down to rubbish legislation.

Braverman was warned time and again before it went through parliament.

It is anti-democratic and it is clear that the police find it very uncomfortable.

An ex-Manchester chief Constable said that it is worrying because this legislation covers everything including the right to protest over say, HS2, or building on a piece of land that is SSSI or the fact that your child’s school is being closed down - anything!

The police are under pressure to enact this legislation (from who was unspecified, but it doesn’t take much imagination) in all cases, and feel very unhappy about acting under such bad law.

I'd rather a thousand times that police apologised for removal of potentially disruptive elements than that they were apologising for doing too little too late if protesters had led to fights and dangerous incidents. It was a no win situation for the police. Damned if they did and damned if they didn't.
We'll never know what might have happened. The protesters say that they
would have been be peaceful but they would say that wouldn't they?!

It will all come down to law. Including this thread.

Republic have a strong track record of peaceful protests and campaigns. We will not be deterred.

@GrahamSmith

We have just been told that the police will be taking no further action. This has been a disgraceful episode and we will be speaking to lawyers about taking legal action. I also expect a full inquiry into why they repeatedly lied to us and who authorised the arrests.

They didn’t have any lock on or other devices. That was the excuse for arresting them in the first place. They had placards and megaphones. there weren’t that many of them. We should allow such protests. If people don’t like living in a free country…..

Galaxy

If people dont like living in a country where people are allowed to disagree with a monarchy there are plenty that require that kind of obedience.

Beautifully put, well done

I fully support the right to peaceful protest, provided it is non-violent, non-disruptive, and does not become a "public nuisance". So yes, it was most definitely a tough call for the Met on the day, for a once in a lifetime event for which tens of thousands of people had turned out and hoped to enjoy without undue interference. It appears that some protesters were carrying "lock-on devices" with which they could secure themselves to railings etc., plus, rape alarms were being distributed, which were going to be used to attempt to frighten the many horses involved in the parade. So in some ways for the police it was always going to be a case of "damned if you do, and damned if you don't". On that basis, I can quite understand why they may have erred on the side of being over-zealous, as to under-react could have threatened public safety. I suspect that the tens of thousands who turned out to enjoy the day would agree. Peaceful protest.. no problem. Anything beyond that, no thanks.

I’m sure there will be more soon (R4 that is)

Wyllow3

Just missed it - summary?

Sorry, I’ve just had a minor emergency (ill DH)
It seems okay-ish now🤞

Those arrested were quietly released as there is no law covering the arrest.

In which case, it shouldnt have happened.

I wonder if it happened because there are people who want other people to live in fear.
Think I may have said that on here before.

The Agenda. And no, I am not going to go into it all.

Just missed it - summary?

FannyCornforth

The Today programme is dealing with this in depth now

Bum I’m just taking the dog out

Ah, okay, yes, I think you’re right WW
That makes perfect sense

The Today programme is dealing with this in depth now

FannyCornforth

WW I heard an interview with a top copper a couple of days ago (sorry, a bit vague I know) and he reckoned it was a mix of panic / over cautiousness and a relatively inexperienced workforce

I don’t believe that. Them not you🙂.

This was the subject of weeks of discussion, with every detail ironed out by both parties.

This did not happen through idiocy, this happened because I reckon of a phone call from the HO.