Key events
Met will have ‘significant policing presence’ as part of plan for weekend protests
The Metropolitan police have said there will be a “significant policing presence” in Westminster on Saturday with a number of large protests expected.
In addition to the marches organised by the Together Alliance and the Palestine Coalition, a number of protests against the Iranian regime – both static assemblies and marches – are due to take place in the Westminster area on both Saturday and Sunday.
The force said they have used conditions under the public order act to ensure only rally areas that have been agreed in advance are used and to set fixed routes that must be followed and to determine required end times.
Dispersal zones will be in place if people gather in places away from the agreed form up locations that cause disruption or harassment and intimidation.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, who is in charge of the policing operation this weekend, said: “This is going to be a busy weekend for our officers but we have detailed plans in place to ensure all groups protesting this weekend can do so lawfully and without causing serious disruption to other Londoners, businesses or visitors.”
“I am mindful that it is less than a week since the appalling arson attack in Golders Green which will only have compounded already heightened fears in the Jewish community.
“We take these fears seriously and have carefully considered them in our planning, balancing them as we are required to do against the rights of others to lawful protest.”
Hundreds of thousands expected to gather in London for march against far right
Good morning. Hundreds of thousands of people are to turn out in central London to support what is expected to be the biggest multicultural march in UK history on Saturday.
Scotland Yard said there will be a significant police presence in the capital on Saturday as two large marches will converge in Westminster.
One march, followed by speeches and musical performances, is organised by the Together Alliance and is said to have the support of celebrities including comedian Sir Lenny Henry and singer Paloma Faith, although neither are expected to be present.
Participants will march from Park Lane at 1pm, finishing on Whitehall, while a music event will also take place in Trafalgar Square featuring artists including former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
A separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition will form up at the southern end of Exhibition Road from midday, marching towards Hyde Park Corner where the demonstrators will turn onto Piccadilly, joining the route of the Together Alliance before the groups form up for a rally on Whitehall.
A video message from London mayor Sadiq Khan will be played to those gathered at the Whitehall stage and the leader of the Green party Zack Polanski is expected to make a speech.
The musician, Billy Bragg told the Guardian on Friday participants hoped to “send out a message to our fellow citizens that we are willing to take a stand against [the politics of hate] being imported into the UK”.
