Met imposes conditions to move weekly protest away from Swiss Cottage

The Met has intervened to block a protest group gathering in Swiss Cottage this Friday in an effort to prevent further serious disruption to the life of the community.

Officers have imposed Public Order Act conditions on a static protest that was due to take place in Finchley Road, at the junction of Eton Avenue.

It may now not take place in Swiss Cottage or anywhere in the shaded area on the map below.

The protest, which is organised by the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) but attended by people from a variety of groups, has been taking place on a near weekly basis since October 2023.

In February, conditions were imposed requiring the protest to relocate outside the Swiss Cottage area. After an eight-week period where protests were held outside New Scotland Yard, the protest returned to Swiss Cottage last week, prompting a further assessment of its impact.

Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who is in charge of policing in Camden and Islington, said: “The policing of protest must constantly balance the rights of people to protest with the rights of others to go about their lives without being subjected to serious disruption.

“We have been in ongoing engagement with community representatives and protest organisers to ensure we are achieving this balance, using our powers proportionately where necessary.

“The protests in Swiss Cottage have been a cause of particular concern. They take place in the heart of a community with a significant Jewish population, on the eve of the Sabbath and at a time when fear and concern linked to a rise in antisemitic hate crime is increased. We have seen instances of hate speech and intimidating behaviour, including confrontation between this protest and counter protest groups.

“The law requires us to assess the impact of each individual protest rather than taking a blanket approach, but it allows us to consider the cumulative impact of sustained protest when assessing whether or not it is the cause of serious disruption.

“It is our position, after careful consideration, that the only way to prevent that level of disruption in this case is to use our powers to require the protest to take place elsewhere.”

Details of the conditions in place have been shared with community representatives and local partners.

We are happy to work with the protest organisers to ensure that any protest at a suitable alternative location can take place peacefully.

Officers will still be deployed in Swiss Cottage on Friday evening to ensure that anyone assembling in breach of the conditions is identified and the dealt with appropriately.