News - 21 March 2025 15:55

Met sets out policing plans ahead of weekend protests

Police are preparing for another busy weekend in London ahead of a number of protests.

Across the weekend there will be protests in Kensington, Westminster and Green Park.

On Saturday, a static protest, organised by the Palestine Coalition, will form up on Kensington Road, near the Embassy of Israel, at 12:30hrs and will last until 14:30hrs. We have imposed conditions under the Public Order Act to minimise the risk of serious disruption. The details are set out below.

Another protest, organised under the banner For the Children, will begin at 13:00hrs at the Park Lane and Wellington Arch area. They will rally and travel via Grosvenor Square, Victoria Street, Artillery Row and Horseferry Road.

Currently we have not been informed of any planned counter protests for either of the above events, but the Met will be prepared and have sufficient resources in place.

On Sunday, the annual Al Quds organisers are holding their annual protest. They will form up at 14:30hrs at Marble Arch and move towards to Portland Place via Oxford Street.

A static rally will then take place in Portland Place. Conditions have been imposed to ensure it is finished by 17.30hrs.

A counter protest, organised by Stop The Hate, will be taking place at the same time, and they plan to hold an assembly in Oxford Circus.

Other conditions under the Public Order Act for this march have also been imposed.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who is leading the policing operation in London for Sunday, said:

“The role of the police is to ensure that groups can exercise their right to peaceful protest, while also balancing the rights of those in the wider community to go about their lives without serious disruption.

“We are expecting this to be a busy weekend in London and have carefully considered the impact of the different protests, and counter protest, on communities across London.

“We are confident that appropriate measures are in place to prevent serious disruption and ensure the events takes place peacefully.

“In recent months we have imposed conditions on protests in Portland Place. We have recognised the impact when these protests have been scheduled for a Saturday, considering the proximity to a nearby synagogue, the significance of the Sabbath for Jewish people and the need to avoid serious disruption to synagogue users.

“We were clear that this was not an outright ban on protests in Portland Place and recognised that our approach on other days of the week was likely to differ. We assess every event individually balancing individual rights, the legal framework and likely impact. Steps have been taken to minimise any disruption to the wider community including religious premises.

“We are in discussions with community stakeholders, representatives from relevant premises and with the organisers. Our role is to police this event, as we do other protests, without fear or favour and within the legal framework available to us.”

Details on conditions are below:

Palestine Coalition

Section 14 – Public Order Act

Any person participating in the Palestine Coalition protest on Kensington Road must remain in the shaded area indicated on the map.

The stage for this protest must be placed in the area indicated on the map.

Construction of the stage and associated equipment must not commence until 11:00hrs.

The assembly must finish by 14:30hrs.

Al Quds

Section 14 – Public Order Act

Participants in the Al Quds Day Rally must assemble on Marble Arch, prior to the procession, in the red shaded area on the map.

Participants in the Al Quds in the Al Quds Day Rally must remain in Portland Place in the red shaded area on the attached map at the conclusion of the procession.

The stage for the rally must be placed at the location shown on the map.

The assembly at Portland Place must conclude by 17:30hrs.