Conditions imposed on UKIP Whitechapel protest to prevent disorder

The Met has imposed Public Order Act conditions on a protest organised by the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) that was due to take place in Whitechapel next Saturday, 31 January.

The conditions prevent anyone taking part in the UKIP protest gathering in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. They have been imposed to prevent serious disorder and serious disruption. Breaching the conditions, or encouraging others to do so, is an arrestable offence.

It is the second time that UKIP has proposed an assembly in Whitechapel in recent months. Conditions were also imposed on the previous effort in October, resulting in the protest being moved to central London.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman, who is responsible for Met Operations which includes public order policing, said: “We have encouraged UKIP to consider the very real likelihood that their presence in Whitechapel could lead to serious disruption or serious disorder and to consider an alternative proposal.

“We are not saying that the UKIP protest, in isolation, will be disorderly. But we do know that many will find it provocative and that provocation is likely to lead to an adverse local reaction.

“We reasonably believe, based on the information available and on previous similar incidents, that the coming together of the UKIP protest with opposing groups who are hostile to its presence would be highly likely to lead to violence and serious disorder.

“As the police, we can’t just allow that to happen – so we have a choice.

“We can deploy significant numbers of officers to physically stand between the groups – a situation that will likely result in clashes between protesters and police and also between opposing groups. This risks injury to officers, protesters and members of the public – which we see as preventable.

“Alternatively, we can use our powers under the Public Order Act to proactively impose conditions on the protest, preventing UKIP gathering in Tower Hamlets and avoiding an inevitable clash.

"It would be reckless to allow an event to go ahead when we understand there's a risk of serious violence to members of the community and to our officers. We are not doing so on the grounds of politics. We're not even doing so on the grounds of whether people will be offended or not by their presence. We are doing so solely on our risk assessment for serious disorder.

“It’s also important to clarify this isn’t a ban. The UKIP protest can still take place elsewhere as it did last time. If they will engage with our teams we are confident a less provocative location that avoids the risk of serious disorder can be identified.”

A counter protest in Whitechapel, organised by a group known as the ‘Central London Anti-Fascists’, was announced in opposition to the UKIP protest.

It is yet to be confirmed if that protest will still go ahead given the imposition of conditions preventing UKIP gathering in their proposed location.

If it was to take place, participants would be subject to conditions that have been imposed requiring them to remain on the pavement along Whitechapel Road and Whitechapel High Street in order to prevent serious disruption to the community, including the nearby hospital.

On the same day, the first national Palestine Coalition protest of the year will take place in central London.

DAC Harman said: “Organisers initially proposed forming up on Park Lane before marching to Whitehall. However, concerns were raised about the impact on Jewish Londoners attending synagogues in the area, specifically in the vicinity of Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner.

“We urged organisers to consider a different route and made clear that conditions would likely be imposed if no alternative was proposed.

“While they did not agree with our assessment, they have put forward an alternative plan. The protest will now form up in Russell Square before marching to Whitehall. We are confident this addresses concerns around disruption and avoids further negative impact on Jewish communities attending the synagogues previously identified.”

Conditions have been imposed on the Palestine Coalition protest to ensure serious disruption doesn’t occur even on the revised route.

They require anyone participating to form up in Russell Square only and set an earliest start time of 12:45hrs.

A route has been agreed, namely Russell Square, Southampton Row, Kingsway, right onto the Aldwych, Strand, Trafalgar Square and into Whitehall. The conditions require all participating in the protest to follow that agreed route.

The post-march rally in Whitehall must finish by 17:00hrs with all participants dispersed by 18:00hrs.

We are in discussion with the group ‘Stop the Hate’ who have informed us of their intention to hold a counter protest along the route of the Palestine Coalition march as they have done on many occasions previously.

The details of the location of the counter protest are in the final stages of being agreed. This page will be updated with the relevant conditions relating to that protest when they are confirmed.

Full details of the conditions in place, including maps, can be found below:

UKIP protest:

Any person taking part in the UKIP and affiliated parties protest on 31 January 2026 must not enter the London borough of Tower Hamlets (the area outlined on the map below).

Central London Anti-Fascists counter protest:

Any person taking part in the Central London Anti-Fascists and affiliated parties’ protest in Whitechapel on Saturday 31 January 2026 must remain within the red shaded area on the map below.

Palestine Coalition protest:

Any person taking part in the Palestine Coalition protest on Saturday 31 January must form up within the shaded area on the map below (Russell Square) until such time as the procession commences along the agreed route.

Any person taking part in the Palestine Coalition protest must not deviate from the route shown on the map below – namely Russell Square, Southampton Row, Kingsway, right onto the Aldwych, Strand, Trafalgar Square and into Whitehall.

The procession must not commence before 12:45 hrs and any person taking part must not set off along the route before then.

Any person taking part in the rally following the Palestine Coalition protest must remain within the shaded area on the map below (Whitehall). Any stage being used for the assembly must be placed in the location shown. Any speeches must end by 17:00 hrs. The assembly must conclude by 18:00 hrs.