Row erupts as Met Police impose restrictions on central London pro-Palestinian march amid safety concerns

September 4, 2024

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.

The PSC and fellow travellers are not happy. This is a signed statement the Stop the War Coalition

We are concerned that the Metropolitan Police are threatening to place restriction orders on next Saturday’s Palestine protest, delaying the start time by one and a half hours to 2.30pm and refusing us Pall Mall as an assembly point.

Changing the start time of the demonstration, which is marching to the Israeli Embassy, from the normal 1pm to 2.30pm is completely unpractical and will cause major problems, especially for people coming from outside London.

The organisers first informed the police of their plans on 8 August, more than three weeks ago. We worry that these kind of delays and late challenges and conditions to the plans of what are entirely peaceful demonstrations are forming a pattern.”

The list of signatories reads like a Who’s Who of anti-semitism

Director Ben Jamal urged a rethink, adding: “…To make changes to the start time seems to us to be a tactic designed to deter people from attending.”

As the Home Office has power, which I know from personal experience has been used on numerous occasions to forbid a march entirely, adjusting the start time is a mere bagatelle.