A MASSIVE 24-hour steel ring will protect the Cenotaph amid fears of violent clashes at pro-Palestinian Armistice Day protests.
More than half a million protesters are expected to march through central London calling for a ceasefire in Gaza – with Home Secretary Suella Braverman meeting Britain’s chief constable today to discuss the response.
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Policemen stand guard at the Cenotaph Credit: PA
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Police officers guard the Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall ahead of Armistice DayCredit: Alamy
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The exclusion zone will cover Whitehall and Horse Guards ParadeCredit: Getty
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Police officers have been given powers to force people in some areas to remove face coverings Credit: Tom Bowles
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The cenotaph will be surrounded by a ring of steelCredit: Cover images
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The police ‘effectively forbade’ protesters access to the monumentCredit: Alamy
Ms Braverman criticized the police for “playing favourites” and toning down what she called “hate marches”.
But sources close to the Home Secretary tonight suggested she had held more constructive talks with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
A source said: “The Home Secretary and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police met this afternoon to discuss policing the Armistice Day demonstrations tomorrow.
“The commissioner presented plans to continue work on maintaining public order and peace, respecting the law and preserving the safety of participants, police officers and the public.
“The Home Secretary emphasized her full support for the police in what will be a complex and challenging situation and expressed confidence that any crime will be dealt with firmly.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also issued a statement this evening insisting that any protests would only be allowed away from the site of remembrance.
He said: “This weekend people across the UK will stand together in silent reflection to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
“Veterans, loved ones of those who have given their lives for their country and many others of us will want to honor this moment.
“This act of remembrance is fundamental to who we are as a country and I want to reassure those who wish to pay their respects, attend services and travel that they can and should do so.”
He said police had assured him they were “taking every step to ensure memorial services are protected from any protests”.
And the Prime Minister declared: “Protests will only be allowed away from the commemoration event.
“The Whitehall Cenotaph – a permanent symbol of remembrance – has been placed in a restricted zone and will be guarded around the clock to protect it for those traveling to pay their respects.
“We have also taken steps to ban a series of protests planned at train stations, which were designed only to disrupt and intimidate.
“For the sake of those who fought for this country and for the freedom we cherish, those who want to protest can do so, but they must do so respectfully and peacefully.
First of all, this weekend should be dedicated to the selfless courage of our armed forces
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
“Remembrance weekend is sacred for us all and should be a moment of unity, our shared British values and solemn reflection.
“Above all, this weekend should be dedicated to the selfless bravery of our armed forces. We will remember them.”
Protesters will gather in Hyde Park at midday before marching to the US Embassy in Vauxhall at around 4pm.
More than 11,000 people in Gaza have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the Hamas massacre on October 7, including 4,500 children.
Scotland Yard said protesters would be “effectively banned” from going near the memorial event at the Cenotaph – which is not on the planned march route.
The cenotaph will be protected by metal barriers and officers working around the clock until the commemoration ends on Sunday.
The Met said: “In order to protect national commemorative events and sites, in particular the Cenotaph, an exclusion zone will be in place.
“It will cover Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Westminster Abbey Field of Remembrance and other relevant areas, effectively banning those marching in these locations.
“Anyone believed to be part of or associated with pro-Palestinian protests attempting to gather in this area may be arrested.
“There will be metal barriers and officials to protect him.
“The cenotaph will have a 24-hour police presence which began on Thursday and will remain in place until the commemoration ends on Sunday.
“Officers will prevent anyone from approaching or disturbing the Cenotaph in any way.”
Protesters were also barred from the US Embassy in Nine Elms and the Israeli Embassy in High Street Kensington.
A dispersal is in place for any smaller groups causing trouble in Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.
ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS RENEWED
Officers were also given special search powers in Westminster and parts of Wandsworth and Lambeth, in response to concerns that there could be counter-protests involving far-right groups and football hooligans.
Authorities allow them to search anyone in the area for weapons and force them to remove their face coverings.
Specialist officers in cars and motorbikes will escort hate convoys that plan to “pass through Jewish communities waving flags and shouting anti-Semitic slurs”.
Police will “intervene as they approach” to stop convoys terrorizing Jewish communities in and around London.
It comes days after Ms Braverman accused the police of “playing favourites” with left-wing protesters – sparking a civil war in the Tory party.
Braverman’s article in The Times criticizing what she called “hate marches” was not approved in the no. 10, which may have violated the ministerial code.
At lunchtime Downing Street decided to stand by the embattled Ms Braverman.
More than 1,000 police officers from across the United Kingdom have been drafted into London due to fears of violent clashes.
They will join around 2,000 Met officers escorting a pro-Palestinian march through central London following a two-minute silence on Saturday.
The reinforcements from the district under mutual aid agreements follow intelligence that splinter groups may try to cause trouble.
An additional 778 regional police officers will be on duty in the capital on Saturday and 288 on Sunday.
Police chief Chris Howard, leading the police response to the problems caused by the conflict in Gaza, said more than 100,000 protesters could be heading towards the capital.
But he said that it is impossible to ban the march because the threat of serious violence must be proven according to the law.
He added that even if the march was banned, the police would still not be able to stop the huge crowd that gathered in one place.
‘SEVERE VIOLENCE, NOT SONGS’
“You’re still going to expect 100,000 people to show up, maybe more, who will then be in a static position,” he said.
Mr Haward added: “The threshold (for a ban) is extremely high. This is serious violence, not words that could be chanted.”
Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Council of Police Chiefs, stressed that protests outside the capital since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel had been “largely peaceful”.
Only eight arrests were made at 67 protests across the country between November 2 and 5.
However, 29 people were arrested during protests in central London last weekend.
Fireworks were thrown at police officers, and crowds chanted slogans against Israel.
He defended the Met commissioner’s right to allow the Armistice Day parade despite government opposition.
Mr Stephens said: “We need space in the police to make tough operational decisions independently.
“That area is very clearly defined by law in the Order on Police Protocol, which was updated at the beginning of this year.
“The decisions we make are not easy, but we make them impartially, without fear or favor, in accordance with the law and our authorized professional practice.”
And Mr Sunak warned that Sir Mark would be responsible for maintaining order over the weekend.
Mr Stephens said it was “really important that public debate is not part of our operational decision-making”.
He said it would “fundamentally undermine” the way policing works in the UK.
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