politics
More Than 4,000 Police Officers Deployed for Rival London Protests
Metropolitan Police has deployed more than 4,000 officers, drones, horses, dogs and armoured vehicles to manage two rival demonstrations in central London on Saturday. One march is organised by far-right figure Tommy Robinson under the name Unite the Kingdom, while a separate pro-Palestinian march marks Nakba Day.
May 16, 5:23 AM·2m read2 sources
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More than 4,000 police officers have been deployed across London as crowds gather for two rival protests, the Metropolitan Police said. Officers will use drones, police horses and dogs, and have armoured vehicles on standby. Police will also enforce a so-called sterile zone separating the Unite the Kingdom march, organised by far-right figure Tommy Robinson, from a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
The Metropolitan Police described the operation as one of the most significant policing deployments in recent years. In addition to the protests, tens of thousands of football fans are expected at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup Final on Saturday afternoon.
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the policing operation will cost the force £4.5m. The Met said the risks from the protests required the highest degree of control. This includes the first use of live facial recognition cameras during a protest policing operation.
The technology will be deployed at Euston and King's Cross St Pancras train stations, where participants in the Unite the Kingdom march are expected to arrive. Drones will monitor both protest routes. Officers at Wembley will also review CCTV feeds from the FA Cup final to identify supporters who may be heading toward the demonstrations.
Strict controls have been placed on the routes and finishing times of both marches.
Participants in the Unite the Kingdom march are scheduled to gather in Kingsway before proceeding to Whitehall and a rally in Parliament Square. The separate pro-Palestinian march, which commemorates Nakba Day, begins in Kensington and heads to Waterloo Place via Piccadilly.
