<
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/07/police-right-to-arrest-coronation-protesters-as-uk-on-global-stage-says-minister>
"Police who arrested anti-monarchy protesters before King Charles III’s
coronation have “destroyed whatever trust might have existed between peaceful
protesters and the Metropolitan police,” the chief executive of the campaign
group Republic has said.
After six members of the group were arrested at about 7.30am on Saturday –
before their protest had begun – and had their placards seized, Graham Smith
said officers “should hang their heads in shame” and that police had shown “no
judgment, no common sense and no basic decency”.
Smith and his fellow campaigners for an elected head of state were held at a
police station until late on Saturday night despite previously liaising with
Scotland Yard. After his release, Smith said: “What is the point in being open
and candid with the police, working with their liaison officers and meeting
senior commanders, if all their promises and undertakings turn out to be a lie?
“It is notable that King Charles has said nothing about these arrests. Rather
than defend our liberty and values, he is content celebrating his anointment as
monarch while citizens are locked up.”
Asked what further action he and other members of Republic faced, Smith said:
“We don’t know. We’ve all been bailed, that’s all we know. So, we will hear
about whatever happens later.”
Scotland Yard said officers made 52 arrests on Saturday for offences including
affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a
public nuisance. “Lock-on” devices were seized during the arrest of the
Republic organisers, a police statement said, but the group denied having any
such equipment. It claimed one protester was arrested for possession of string
that was part of a placard."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
