Met Gears Up for Bank Holiday Showdown with Extinction Rebellion
London is bracing for a weekend of chaos as multiple protests, including ongoing Extinction Rebellion actions, take centre stage. The Met plans a hefty police presence not only at demos but also at football matches, music festivals, and the abandoned Notting Hill Carnival site.
Reinforcements Called In as Met Faces Protest Avalanche
To tackle the surge in events, the Met has drafted officers from neighbouring forces for Saturday’s operation. These reinforcements will back up the Met’s response teams amid an intense weekend of demonstrations.
Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Issues Warning: More Arrests Likely
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “A policing operation of this complexity and scale is rarely seen in London. Our plan is flexible to tackle any challenge across the weekend.”
“We’re prepared for protests by Extinction Rebellion and others. Officers have faced complex ‘lock-on’ devices and vandalism with paint on London landmarks — behaviour we find totally unacceptable.”
“We’ve already made numerous arrests and expect more as Extinction Rebellion vows to continue disruption. They have the right to protest but not to cause serious disruption.”
Met Focused on Fighting Violence and Keeping London Safe
Throughout the Bank Holiday, the Met will work closely with City of London Police and British Transport Police. Officers will stay visible in communities while targeting violence hotspots.
DAC Twist added: “This will be a busy weekend, but our plans are ready. Londoners will see police working hard to keep them safe. The disruption from Extinction Rebellion, especially as London recovers from the pandemic, is deeply frustrating for local communities.”
