London mayor calls for 'urgent clarity' from Met over policing of coronation protests
Over 60 demonstrators were arrested during Saturday's events, with reports some volunteers were taken into custody for handing out rape alarms to keep women safe.
Sunday 7 May 2023 22:33, UK
London mayor Sadiq Khan has called for "urgent clarity" from the Metropolitan Police over the force's treatment of protesters during the coronation on Saturday.
A total of 64 people were arrested around the coronation - including 13 people to "prevent a breach of the peace", and a man with an unused megaphone, who police said could "scare the horses".
The Metropolitan Police said on Sunday night that four people had been charged - two for drug offences, one for disorderly conduct, and one charged with a religiously aggravated offence.
Of the others, one was arrested on a warrant for non-payment of fines and remains in police custody. The remaining people were either released on police bail or freed without further charge.
There have been reports volunteers who were handing out rape alarms to keep women safe in the early hours of Saturday morning were also taken into custody.
It is not clear whether these were part of the figures released by the police.
Read more:
Coronation protesters 'targeted' by police to 'stop message getting out'
Labour 'not entertaining prospect' of Lib Dem coalition
Met Police commander Karen Findlay defended the force's action during the coronation, saying they policed "proportionately" and within the "context" of the large-scale event.
But Mr Khan - who has oversight of the force as mayor - said some of the arrests "raise questions", adding: "Whilst investigations are ongoing, I've sought urgent clarity from Met leaders on the action taken."
Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic said a number of their team were arrested "as we prepared for a peaceful and lawful protest", and they were "detained for the rest of the day".
The group's leader, Graham Smith - who was arrested himself - released a statement on Sunday saying: "These arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of every person in the country.
"The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists. Instead we have a freedom to protest that is contingent on political decisions made by ministers and senior police officers."
Westminster MPs have also questioned the police's decisions on the day.
'Tory legislation could be to blame'
Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday she had "concerns" the force did not get the balance right when it came to ensuring the event went ahead safely while allowing peaceful protest.
"Whether you are royalist or whether you are republican, we should all be able to agree on free speech and the right to protest," she added.
Ms Cooper said new laws brought in by the Conservative government days ahead of the coronation, which give police more power to tackle disruptive protests, could be to blame.
The legislation carries up to a year in jail for demonstrators blocking roads, airports and railways, and lets officers stop and search anyone they suspect is planning to cause disruption.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
The Lib Dem MP said the "far ranging, sweeping powers" would have "a real kind of chilling effect on the right to peaceful protest".
While it was not yet clear if the measures were used by police on Saturday, it needed to be investigated, she added.
Met urged to provide 'accountability'
Labour's Wes Streeting also called for the force to provide "accountability" over the concerns that have been raised about its coronation operation.
The shadow health secretary told Sophy Ridge: "I think it's the accountability that's important.
"Where concerns have been raised, whether that's by Republic, the campaign for an elected head of state, or people more generally just concerned about what they've read in the papers or seen on the telly, it's important that the police provide that accountability."
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said police had to "balance the right to protest, which is important in a democracy" with the right of other people "to enjoy what was a fabulous day".
"Overall, they managed to get that balance right," she added.
The minister also defended the new laws, saying she had "huge confidence" in the police and trusted them to use the new powers.
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Her Tory colleague, deputy party chairman and MP Lee Anderson, went further, however.
In a tweet on Saturday, he attacked protesters going to the coronation, saying: "Not My King? If you do not wish to live in a country that has a monarchy the solution is not to turn up with your silly boards. The solution is to emigrate."
Senior Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant later tweeted: "Freedom of speech is the silver thread that runs through a parliamentary constitutional monarchy."
'Proportionate' policing
Met commander Findlay said the force "absolutely understands public concern following the arrests".
But she said it was their "duty" to police protests "in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation".
The senior officer also said context was important, adding: "The coronation is a once-in-a-generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment."
And she insisted a protest "involving large numbers" went ahead "with police knowledge and no intervention".