Police Prepare for Large Protests in London on Saturday

Metropolitan Police are preparing what they described as an unprecedented security operation for Saturday as two large protests and the FA Cup final converge on London. Police estimate about 80,000 people will attend the marches, with thousands of additional football fans expected at Wembley Stadium.

The force said the day will be one of the busiest for policing in years. Around 4,000 officers are expected to be on duty, including 660 brought in from forces outside the Met. Armoured vehicles, police horses, dogs, drones and helicopters will also be deployed.

The policing operation is budgeted to cost £4.5 million, with £1.7 million allocated to officers from other forces. The two demonstrations are the Unite the Kingdom march, which is associated with Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and a pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally.

Police said they were already in discussions with organisers of the Unite the Kingdom march when the application for the Nakba Day event was received.

and Warnings Metropolitan Police

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the operation is taking place against a backdrop of continued global instability and tension, increased antisemitism, and concerns within Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as a severe terrorism threat level.

Officials have stated that law-abiding protesters will be protected, but anyone attempting to break the law and create chaos should expect to face the full force of the law. Specialist officers are prepared to make swift arrests for hate speech crimes.

"Where the line into criminality is crossed, we will not hesitate to prosecute," Parkinson added. The Crown Prosecution Service has issued new legal guidance on the use of offensive banners, slogans, chants or symbols, citing the changing context and an increase in hate crime attacks ahead of the planned protests.

For the first time under official protest restrictions, organisers of the rallies will face prosecution as well as any speakers who use the events to propagate extremism or hate speech. Live facial recognition will be used for the first time in a protest policing operation.

Cameras have been set up in an area of Camden not on the Unite the Kingdom march route but expected to see heavy foot traffic from attendees. Strict controls have been placed on the march routes and finish times.

The government has blocked 11 foreign nationals from entering the UK ahead of the Unite the Kingdom rally. The individuals include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.

Downing Street stated that anyone attempting to break the law should expect to feel the full force of the law. Tommy Robinson wrote on X ahead of the march: "Today, we Unite the Kingdom and the West in the greatest patriotic display the world has ever seen.

The establishment has shown their hands early, and clearly don't want the people united. Tough! 9 million people. All of us Londoners. " One organiser of the pro-Palestinian march told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Nakba Day event occurs on the same date every year and questioned why the Unite the Kingdom march had been permitted on the same day.

A police federation representative said many officers have had leave cancelled and rest days withdrawn, adding there are not enough officers available. The force has warned of major disruption across the capital on Saturday.