Police clampdown on Hyde Park anti-lockdown protest

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Police have clashed with thousands of anti-lockdown protesters in London today amid outrage over the Met’s handling of a vigil to Sarah Everard last weekend.

Maskless demonstrators met at Hyde Park before marching through the streets of the capital, with some being hauled away by officers.

Conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn – who was launching his mayoral bid – and actor Laurence Fox were among activists waving signs reading: ‘Stop destroying our kids’ lives.’

Protesters continued to march towards the world-famous Oxford Street and blocked off Park Lane, despite organised demonstrations being banned under lockdown restrictions.

There were also expected to be people rallying against plans to give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Ahead of the gatherings – some which were reportedly held to mark a year since the first lockdown – the Met warned people if they attended they risked being arrested.

Meanwhile politicians across the House of Commons called for Priti Patel to change coronavirus legislation to allow protests.

Officers pulled protesters down to the ground and cuffed them while other demonstrators shouted ‘shame on you’.

Thousands marched through the popular Hyde Park setting off flares and waving signs that read: ‘Fear Westminster not the virus.’

They continued through the centre of London, with police following the illegal gathering closely. One of the groups in park today, Jam For Freedom, said on its Twitter followers should meet at 12.45pm.

They said there would be an organised flash-mob, told people to ‘look for the smoke flares’ and said there would be a ‘vigil march’ at 1pm.

The group told its members: ‘You may want to link arms as we march, esp. if police are close or trying to take someone.’ It added: ‘Stay tight, stay aware, stay peaceful and polite.’

There were also expected to be protests against plans to give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Those convicted under proposed legislation contained in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill could face a fine or jail.

Those opposed to the legislation are being urged on social media to take to the streets over the weekend, using the hashtag #KillTheBill.

The Met said on Friday it was aware of several protests planned for Saturday in breach of lockdown rules banning gatherings of more than two people from different households.

The force said a ‘significant policing operation’ would be in place in central London throughout the day.

‘Those gathering will be encouraged to return home, if they do not, they face necessary and proportionate enforcement action. This could be a fixed penalty notice, or arrest.

Referring to the protests planned for this weekend, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: ‘The Met is committed to working with groups who wish to assemble to protest or for other purposes.

‘But these are not normal times.’ He added: ‘People who gather as part of the protest risk the health of Londoners.

‘That is why we have a policing plan in place to disperse crowds and where necessary, take proportionate enforcement action.

‘This will not just be organisers of the protests but participants too – by now everyone knows their part to play in stopping the spread of the virus and thousands have sacrificed much over the last 12 months to do so.’

The Met has come under fire this week for its heavy-handed policing of a vigil on Clapham Common on Saturday in memory of Ms Everard, with Commissioner Cressida Dick facing calls to resign.

The event had been planned by protest group Reclaim These Streets, but it switched to an online event after being warned it would breach Covid-19 rules.

But crowds still gathered to express their anger and grief at the death of the 33-year-old. While largely peaceful, it was marred by scuffles with police and images of some women being bundled to the ground and handcuffed.

Elsewhere today police in Norfolk warned people gathering for a Sarah Everard vigil in a small town tonight risk breaking the Covid laws on gatherings.

Organisers of the vigil – planned for the Market Place in King’s Lynn – say local police have been ‘consulted and are aware’.

A Norfolk police spokesman said ‘We understand the strength of feeling and people’s desire to come together to mourn the death of Sarah Everard and make a statement on the issues of women’s safety.

‘However, large gatherings are not currently permitted under the COVID-19 regulations to prevent the spread of the virus.

‘Many people have made sacrifices during lockdown and we must take a consistent approach to policing the regulations and cannot wave the regulations for any one type of gathering.

‘We will continue to follow the four Es…to engage, explain and encourage, using enforcement where there are breaches of the law.’ The vigil is planned at 6pm tonight. 

Co-organisers Councillor Jo Rust said: ‘There is a great strength and depth of feelings and it’s important that the women of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk are able to peacefully pay their respects and remember the lives of women who have been murdered while doing nothing more than walking home.

‘We will make sure the event is Covid safe and will only allow four people at a time to come and pay their respects. Supporters have been advised to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines.’

Sarah, 33, went missing on March 3 as she walked home from a friend’s house in London. Her remains were found in woods in Kent on March 10 and police officer Wayne Couzens has been charged kidnap and murder.

Another organiser of the King’s Lynn vigil, known only as Rosie, said it was to highlight concerns over women’s safety.

She said: ‘We’re all mindful of safety during the pandemic, and will be acting with the utmost respect for Covid guidelines, but Sarah’s murder has brought it home to many of us, that whatever we do, we’re not safe.’

Another woman, called Cissy, said: ‘Women should be able to walk home without fear of attack, but for most women this isn’t the case.

‘This vigil is to give us all the opportunity to pay our respects to a young woman who was murdered while walking home.’

A woman called Jo added: ‘There is a great strength and depth of feelings and it’s important that the women of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk are able to peacefully pay their respects and remember the lives of women who have been murdered while doing nothing more than walking home.’

They said supporters are advised to attend wearing masks and observe social distancing.

More than 60 MPs joined campaign groups Big Brother Watch and Liberty in writing to the Home Secretary yesterday to say it is a human right to demonstrate.

Tories Steve Baker and Sir Christopher Chope as well as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler signed the letter. 

They are calling on Ms Patel to tell police to ‘facilitate’ protests and avoid forcing them to ‘decipher precisely what is required’. 

The letter said: ‘The absence of clear guidance on these issues has created an entirely unsatisfactory situation, which has persisted to varying degrees for almost a year now.

‘The police have no legal certainty as to their duties and powers, protestors have no legal certainty as to their rights, and there is inconsistent application of the Regulations across the country. This cannot continue.’

But the Home Office doubled down on its position that it is still illegal to leave home without and exemption until March 29.

A spokesman said: ‘While we are still in a pandemic we continue to urge people to avoid mass gatherings, in line with wider coronavirus restrictions.’

There have been constant anti-lockdown protests throughout the pandemic, often attended by conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn.

But over the last week demonstrations were sparked after the police’s handling of a vigil to Sarah Everard. A policeman is facing a charge of murder and abduction.

Organisers cancelled the service at Clapham Common, London, last weekend, but hundreds still attended and clashed with officers.

The day before they had failed to persuade the High Court to overrule the Met in allowing the event to be held.

The judge ruled he would not intervene but hinted human rights of expression and gathering could be considered acceptable excuses.

On Sunday and Monday people took to the streets of Westminister and gathered outside Downing Street and in Parliament Square in protest.

Director of Big Brother Watch Silkie Carlo said: ‘The harrowing scenes of police officers using force against women at Clapham Common recently were avoidable and wrong.

‘Over the past week, many more demonstrators and even legal observers have been arrested or fined.

‘This stain on our democracy is a direct consequence of this government’s disrespect for the most basic of British democratic freedoms.’

Sam Grant from Liberty added: ‘Last week, the police conceded protest is not banned under the lockdown regulations, but used them to threaten then arrest demonstrators anyway.

‘The home secretary must immediately issue guidance to all police forces to ensure socially distanced protests can go ahead and create an explicit exemption for protest in the current regulations.’

Ms Patel has asked Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to ‘conduct a lessons-learned review into the policing of the event’ at Clapham Common.

More protests are expected this weekend but the Met said a ‘significant policing operation’ will be underway to ‘engage’ with lockdown flouters.

It added: ‘Those gathering will be encouraged to return home. If they do not they face necessary and proportionate enforcement action. This could be a fixed penalty notice or arrest.’

A number of demonstrations are expected to take place in the capital, including a rally at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park to support Piers Corbyn’s mayoral bid.

The brother of the former Labour leader has been at the forefront of the anti-lockdown movement since restrictions were imposed a year ago.

There are also expected to be protests against plans to give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Dame Cressida Dick’s tenure as chief of the Metropolitan Police is ‘unlikely’ to be renewed following the anger over her officers’ handling of Sarah Everard‘s vigil.

Ms Patel is not expected to extend her contract at Scotland Yard when it expires in April next year, government sources claimed last night.

Britain’s most senior officer has been put on notice after widespread condemnation of how the Clapham Common memorial was policed last weekend.

Officers arrested and pinned down women attending the event in honour of the 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard.

Dame Cressida faced calls to quit from across the political spectrum and was criticised by both the Home Secretary and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Ms Patel said she was ‘shocked at the way in which Saturday night’s vigil was policed’, while Mr Khan was ‘not satisfied’ with Dame Cressida’s explanation.

Yet she refused to bow to pressure and lambasted ‘armchair’ critics who she said failed to grasp the complexities of policing during the pandemic.

But insiders believe last week’s saga was the final straw in what is being viewed in government as a mounting catalogue of blunders.

Dame Cressida came under fire last year for her handling of London’s Black Lives Matter protests, which spiralled into chaos and saw violence.

A source told The Times: ‘Cressida is not seen as having done a great job… The general expectation is that her contract won’t be extended.’

Ms Patel said she retained ‘full confidence’ in the Met comissioner and the source stressed the pair have a strong working relationship.

In the wake of the protests Mr Khan, who is up for reelection in May, said he did not believe the capital’s streets were safe for young women.

He told LBC: ‘No, they aren’t – or for girls – and it’s really important that people of my gender understand that.

‘If you’re a woman or a girl, your experiences of our city, in any public space, whether it’s in the workplace on the streets, on public transport is very different to if you are a man or a boy, and it’s really important that people like me in positions of power and influence understand that and take steps to address that.’

After last week’s protests Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Commissioner to ‘consider’ her leadership of the force, adding: ‘Cressida Dick has lost the confidence of the millions of women in London and should resign.’

Women’s Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer said her position was ‘untenable’.