The police has apologised over the arrest of the republican group

Typical Guardian.

Letter from a retired judge.

*as a retired judge, I am sickened and appalled by the actions of the Met Police in arresting protesters……………..
The Met police apparently believe tha5 peaceful protests are a threat to democracy. It seems that they have apologised to the protesters. For what? If the officers were correct in arresting the. Protesters, there is nothing to apologise for. We should remember that repressive right wing governments cannot act alone. They need willing agents to do the dirty work for them. I think that they have now found such an agent.
The new commissioner clearly has a lot of work to do

Dr. Stephen Pacey
Retired upper tribunal judge.

There was freedom of expression and freedom of assembly which is why protesters were present. I wonder what the Guardian editorial thought of the placard which advocated the RF being beheaded.

Maybe Dr. Stephen Pacey didn't see that either.

Does anyone have a link to the photo of the placard calling for the King to be beheaded? I agree that is appalling and I’m pretty sure that person could be arrested legitimately (hate speech?). Do we know they were definitely with Republic?

‘Behead the King ‘ may not be a republican !

The judge has a bigger overview, he isn’t fiddling around with placards😄😄

His concern is like mine with our cornerstones of freedom and democracy, as well as political interference with the police.

The republicans are certainly fiddling around with placards

Mollygo

^I saw a woman with a placard advocating the beheading of the Royal Family and wondered if George, Charlotte and Louis saw that too.^
How frightening for them if they did.

And that’s what republicans call a peaceful protest? Please don’t protest that all Republicans are like that.
Republicans, like monarchists will be associated with the worst of their kind.

Not all republicans are like that.
As I say, I had a lovely chat with one at our Coronation party and no, he didn't bring a placard, he brought lovely food 🙂

I didn't dream it, it was on the national news briefly because DH and I both saw it and were shocked.
It was a middle aged woman holding the placard.
How very odd.

Perhaps the news has been sanitised and it's been deleted or perhaps protesters thought it was too extreme and told her to remove it.

Smileless2012

There was freedom of expression and freedom of assembly which is why protesters were present. I wonder what the Guardian editorial thought of the placard which advocated the RF being beheaded.

They made no comment on that apparently. I wonder why not.

The judge I know is concerned with the law. Nothing else, just the law, and applying the law. The retired judge who has made a statement about these events is only able to do so because he is retired.

Germanshepherdsmum

Typical Guardian.

Typical GSM I'd say ;)

He is spot on. As said, many true Tories are appalled and concerned.

nightowl

Does anyone have a link to the photo of the placard calling for the King to be beheaded? I agree that is appalling and I’m pretty sure that person could be arrested legitimately (hate speech?). Do we know they were definitely with Republic?

It would have been totally fair for such a placard, if indeed it did exist - to be confiscated. Most placards were with 'Not my King' - and those were totally acceptable and should have never been confiscated- and those holding them not arrested!

The news camera caught it abpnd showed a shot but it has totally disappeared!!

It would be counter-productive to the republic movement anyway.

Mostly though, and so many Conservatives and police, and in the judiciary, realise this scored a massive own goal in favour of the Republicans, and any who intend to protest about any other issue in the future. It has damaged the Monarchy in the eyes of the vast majority of young people who are not keen on, or against the Monarchy.

I can see why this may have damaged people's opinion of the police but not sure why is should damage the Monarchy.

I’m a Conservative and don’t see it as ‘a massive own goal’ fp, so that’s one off your list. And a few others I know. How you can purport to know what the judiciary, or ‘the vast majority of young people …’ think I have no idea. This is the way you see it. You are entitled to your opinion but you cannot speak for people you don’t know.

How weird

Conservatives must be Monarchists
Republicans must be Labour
🤔

The Police? They are just trying to do their best to keep everyone safe.

Seems that way! 😊

Smileless2012

I can see why this may have damaged people's opinion of the police but not sure why is should damage the Monarchy.

I agree.

Smileless2012

I can see why this may have damaged people's opinion of the police but not sure why is should damage the Monarchy.

Because the republicans say it will.
Just the same as if they’d actually thrown paint etc. the republicans would say it raised the profile of republicans against the monarchy, and it certainly did.
Easy to picture the number, neither republican nor monarchist who would happily swear to be republican if it allowed them to do what the republicans were accused of doing.
Throw paint?
I did it in the name of the republicans.
Make posters that hopefully the majority of Republicans wouldn’t do?
I did it in the name of Republicans.
Use rape alarms to spook the horses and upset people enjoying themselves?
I did it in the name of Republicans.

It is clear that the majority of young people are not in favour of the Monarchy, not my opinion, but fact. And for those of them who are actually 'anti' - they will probably perceive what happened on the day as having been done on 'behalf' of the Monarchy, and confirm their negative view.

May I confirm that I am not a 'Republican' myself- but I can understand why the majority of under 25s are.

How could any intelligent person perceive that arrests were made on behalf of the monarchy? What makes such a ridiculous view ‘probable’? You’re not crediting these young people with much knowledge, and zero understanding of the British constitution.