Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said he was “deeply concerned” about the impact that policing the protests was having on his force, but insisted that any marches would not “collide or interfere” with remembrance commemorations.
Speaking at the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, he said: “It [Remembrance Day] is a major security event from a policing perspective as well as a moment of national reflection and remembrance.
“It is a major policing event and we will ensure the security of that event from all sorts of threats and risks, including any problems caused by protests, planned or spontaneous.
“On the planning of any event, other events are relevant to that, and remembrance weekend and the events in Whitehall and Westminster Abbey are of national significance. So we will ensure that, if there is a march that weekend, it will not collide or interfere with that.
“That is why we always encourage people leading protests to speak to us beforehand, to help us, help them plan to the best effect, so they can do something sensible that meets their aims without causing unreasonable disruption to others.”
He said previous marches had conditions imposed restricting people from going near the Israeli embassy. Similar conditions are likely to be imposed on the Nov 11 protest to keep demonstrators away from Whitehall and the Cenotaph.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
