The Metropolitan Police are increasingly under scrutiny regarding their management of a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London that resulted in the arrest of over 70 individuals.
On Friday, leaders from various trade unions joined the chorus calling for an independent investigation into what they deemed “repressive and heavy-handed policing” during the January 18 protest, in a letter addressed to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. This appeal followed similar communications from legal professionals, various MPs and Lords, and the British Palestinian Committee, all echoing the demand for a review of restrictive protest laws enacted by the Conservative government.
Amnesty International has also voiced concerns regarding the police actions, as Green party member of the London Assembly, Zoë Garbett, reported to the assembly’s police and crime committee that she had received accounts from over 150 individuals detailing incidents involving kettling and police aggression directed at children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
After the event, Commander Adam Slonecki, who oversaw the police operation, claimed there was “a deliberate effort by protest organizers and others to violate conditions and attempt to march out of Whitehall.” He characterized this as “a serious escalation in criminal behavior.”
Earlier protests, following Israel’s military response in Gaza after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, had largely been peaceful and led to amicable relations between the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and police forces.
However, recent restrictions imposed on the latest march route, which prevented demonstrators from proceeding to the BBC headquarters, alongside the high number of arrests—particularly that of Chris Nineham, the rally’s chief steward from the Stop the War coalition—have strained these relations.
Both Nineham and PSC director Ben Jamal face public order charges, and it has been reported that 60 of the 77 individuals detained were accused of violating conditions meant to safeguard a nearby synagogue. The police stated that the individuals broke through their barriers, though protestors, including Green party deputy leader Zack Polanski, contend that arrests were made without prior notice for accidentally straying beyond the ambiguously defined designated area.
Polanski recounted an incident where he intervened to assist a woman in her late 60s or early 70s who was attempting to leave the protest area for a restroom. A steward from the Stop the War coalition alleged they thwarted officers from arresting a 13-year-old girl holding a placard for breaching the Public Order Act due to her early arrival before the official assembly time.
Letters from various groups assert that the Met falsely accused demonstrators carrying flowers, including the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell, of forcing their way through police lines, despite video evidence suggesting they were initially allowed to pass by officers.
Union leaders from organizations such as the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU), the Communication Workers Union (CWU), the University and College Union, and transport unions like RMT, TSSA, and Aslef, stated: “As trade unionists, we understand all too well how aggressive policing, combined with misleading media narratives, has often been employed to undermine our democratic rights to protest and engage in industrial action. We are acutely aware that the oppressive measures observed on Saturday arise from efforts made by the previous Conservative government to restrict our rights to strike and protest.”
Actor Khalid Abdalla, known for his roles in The Crown and The Day of the Jackal, commented that the police tactics resembled those he had witnessed in Egypt.
Given that the next march is scheduled for February 15, increased scrutiny over police actions—both in preparation for and during the event—is anticipated.
This article was updated on January 31, 2025. While Ben Jamal has been charged, he was not arrested, contrary to an earlier claim. Additionally, the term “marchers” was removed; police maintain that protesters sought to march, which the organizers dispute.
