News —
Conditions imposed on student march on Wednesday, 7 October
The Met has imposed robust conditions under the Public Order Act on a student demonstration in central London to prevent serious disruption to communities.
Those taking part are expected to march from Kings College London in the Strand and end at University College London in Russell Square, Holborn, on Wednesday, 7 October.
The conditions require the group to form up in a specific area, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, by 12:30hrs and take a prescribed route to Russell Square. The rally must conclude by 14:00hrs, when participants must disperse.
Anyone taking part must also not wear a face covering that conceals their identity.
Anyone who breaches these conditions can be arrested.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman, who leads Met Operations including public order policing, said:
“This event is being held on the third anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and the start of the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
“This will be a day of mourning and reflection for many in London and we know the serious concerns that this event has caused Jewish communities in particular.
“We have imposed stringent conditions on those taking part in this march. These will help us manage the event and minimise serious disruption.
“Anyone who breaches these conditions or commits offences should be under no illusion they will face arrest. We have zero tolerance for hate crime and those who chant or display placards calling for intifada or encourage unlawful extremism will be arrested.”
In recent days there have been calls for the police to go further and seek a ban for the protest.
DAC Harman added:
“We hear the calls for this event to be banned. The police cannot ban protests and can only ask the Home Secretary to do so if the risk of serious disorder is so high that it can’t be managed by conditions. That high bar is not met here.
“Comments on social media that we banned other protests, such as a UKIP march in Tower Hamlets, are incorrect.
“We have been asked whether the student march is illegal, as under Section 11 of the Public Order Act organisers must provide a name and address to police.
“While we can identify the groups involved in organising the protest from their social media posts, we have not yet identified any specific individual prepared to accept that they are the organiser of this demonstration.
“Under the law, the failure of an organiser to identify themselves does not mean that the specific legal criteria for a ban of a procession is met.
“Once we have identified the organisers, we can consider offences under Section 11.
“I would like to take this opportunity – again – to call on anyone intending to join this march to please reflect on the impact and distress it will cause on this very significant date, and exercise your right to protest on a different day.”
We are also aware of a planned student protest at Marble Arch on Wednesday, 7 October between 13:00hrs and 16:00hrs.
We have previously imposed conditions preventing pro-Palestinian groups assembling at Marble Arch, recognising the impact on those attending synagogues in the vicinity. While that is a particular concern when protests take place on Saturdays – the Jewish holy day – it is reasonably foreseeable that on the anniversary of October 7 there will be congregants wishing to attend synagogue.
We will impose conditions on this protest requiring it to take place away from Marble Arch. The details will be published later today.
Full details of the conditions in place for the student march:
Section 14(3) Public Order Act 1986
Anyone participating in the inter-uni march and rally must remain in the area shaded on the map below (Lincoln’s Inn Fields) until the procession begins.
Participants must form up by 12:30hrs.
Section 14(3) Public Order Act 1986
Any person participating in the post-march assembly and rally must remain in the area shaded on the map below (Russell Square).
The assembly must conclude by 14:00hrs.
No one taking part in the form-up assembly, procession or rally may wear a face covering that conceals their identity.
