Early Saturday morning, six members of the anti-monarchy group Republic were arrested in central London as they marched to Trafalagar Square to demonstrate at the King’s Pass. The police had also seized their placards.
London police said on Monday night they “regret” that the six anti-monarchy protesters arrested on Saturday ahead of Charles III’s coronation celebrations were unable to demonstrate as they had planned and stressed that no charges would be brought. against them.
They were released late on Saturday, more than sixteen hours after their arrest, drawing heavy criticism. In a press release Monday evening, the London police justified themselves at length by explaining that they had arrested six people “suspected of being equipped to chain themselves”.
Law criticized until the UN
Under a law that came into force on Wednesday, criticized as far as the UN, British police can arrest people in possession of equipment likely to be used to chain themselves on public roads, a technique of protest and blocking regularly used by climate activists in the UK.
However, the London police added in their press release that “the investigation could not prove the intention to use (the seized objects) to chain themselves and disrupt the demonstration.”
“We regret that the six people arrested were unable to join the group of demonstrators in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the route of the procession”, concludes Scoland Yard, stressing that no prosecution would be initiated.
The arrest of leader Graham Smith and five other Republic members on Saturday was heavily criticized by the hundreds of anti-monarchy protesters who had gathered to boo the carriage carrying Charles III to Westminster Abbey.
Possible facts “in Moscow, not in London”
“It’s something you expect to see in Moscow, not in London,” said the human rights organization Human Rights Watch. Graham Smith tweeted that three police officers attended his home on Monday evening and issued an apology. “The excuse is not accepted,” he said.
Earlier in the day he criticized the new Public Order Act, which he said was introduced “to give them the power to arrest us on any frivolous pretext”.
“We no longer have the right to demonstrate in this country, we only have the freedom to demonstrate with the permission of the police and politicians,” Graham Smith told the BBC.
In total, London police made 64 arrests on the day of the King’s coronation, including environmental activists.
