Police are considering whether to ban a controversial pro-Palestinian march in London planned for Armistice Day.
Scotland Yard said it would use âall powers and tacticsâ at its disposal to prevent disruption, including Section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986, which allows the banning of a procession when there is a risk of serious disorder.
Met Commander Karen Findlay said: âWe fully appreciate the national significance of Armistice Day. Thousands of officers will be deployed in an extensive security operation and we will use all powers and tactics at our disposal to ensure that anyone intent on disrupting it will not succeed.â
Festival of Remembrance
The Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, which is usually attended by members of the royal family, will take place on Saturday, with a two-minute silence observed at 11am.
Remembrance Sunday events will take place at the Cenotaph in Westminster the following day.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, organisers of the planned demonstration, has pledged to avoid the Whitehall area where the Cenotaph is located.
The planned route will take them from Hyde Park â about a mile from the Cenotaph â to the US embassy in Vauxhall, south of the Thames.
It is for the Met to prove the threshold for a Section 13 has been met before seeking approval from the Home Secretary to sign off on a ban.
“Hate marches”
It is unlikely there would be any resistance to agreeing a ban from Suella Braverman, who has previously labelled the pro-Palestine demonstrations âhate marchesâ, highlighting how some participants had chanted âjihadâ and were âcalling for the erasure of Israelâ.
The Cabinet minister said last week that there is âan obvious risk of serious public disorder, violence and damage, as well as giving offence to millions of decent British peopleâ if protests go ahead on Armistice Day.
In a statement on Sunday night, Scotland Yard said: âWe recognise the terrible events in Israel and Gaza continue to have an impact on communities across London and recognise there is significant concern.
âThe Met has an important role to play in making sure London is a safe place for everybody and over the past four weeks we have dedicated thousands of officers to reassuring communities, policing protests and dealing with anyone who breaks the law.
âWe continue to work with protest organisers to ensure they are lawful, whilst balancing the concerns of other communities.
âOur most experienced and knowledgeable commanders are working on the policing of these events, making sure we are utilising all legislation to its fullest extent.
âSection 13 of the Public Order Act 1986 allows for the banning of a procession when there is a risk of serious disorder. It has to be approved by a Secretary of State.
âSections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 allow for conditions to be imposed to processions and public assembly to prevent serious disruption. We have used this legislation over recent weeks and will continue to use any legislation necessary to keep people safe.â
“No intention” of marching on Whitehall
In a statement, the protest organisers said: âWe have made clear that we have no intention of marching on or near Whitehall, in order not to disrupt events at the Cenotaph.â
They added that âwe are alarmed by members of the Government, including the Prime Minster, issuing statements suggesting that the march is a direct threat to the Cenotaph and designed to disrupt the Remembrance Day commemorationsâ.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed concern about the protest and Mrs Braverman said any protesters who vandalise the Cenotaph should be âput into a jail cell faster than their feet can touch the groundâ.
Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, which allow for conditions to be imposed on marches but fall short of a ban, have already been used by the Met.
A Section 13 order would allow Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley commissioner, with the consent of Mrs Braverman, to make an order prohibiting âthe holding of all public processionsâ if he âreasonably believesâ the powers under Section 12 will not be sufficient.
Sir Mark has promised to take a ârobust approachâ and use âall the powers availableâ to ensure commemorative events are ânot underminedâ.
Pressure group Campaign Against Antisemitism called on Sir Mark to use his powers under Section 13 to ban the march.
âSection 13 powers allow the police to prohibit processions if other powers under the Act do not suffice to prevent serious public disorder. As we have seen over the past month, that threshold is now met,â the group said.
âAs we approach Remembrance weekend, where we remember the heroes who defended our freedoms and fought against antisemitic hatred, we must honour their memory by banning demonstrations that abuse those freedoms to call for violence against Jews.â
Police attacks
Four police officers were attacked with fireworks during Saturdayâs pro-Palestine protest after thousands of demonstrators gathered in Trafalgar Square.
Protesters climbed on the squareâs famous fountains as the mostly peaceful group waved flags and banners. There were six arrests.
Ms Findlay said the Met would be âsharperâ in its response at future protests.
She said: âWe will take action on any placards being carried at protests which are inflammatory and incite racial hatred, or purport to be supporting a proscribed organisation.
âThese are offences and any such banners or material will be assessed by the Metâs Counter Terrorism Command.
âAs in recent weeks, we have been speaking to the organisers of the pro-Palestine march to discuss yesterdayâs demonstrations. We will continue to speak to them across this week as part of our ongoing planning for the weekendâs Remembrance events and will monitor and review all information available to us.â
Related: âWhat is happening to Palestinians is unbearableâ â Barack Obama