Coronation Day Chaos: 64 Arrested as Police Crack Down on Protesters
Scotland Yard made waves on Coronation Day, arresting 64 people amid protests. Of those, 46 were bailed on suspicion of causing public nuisance or breaching the peace. Four individuals now face charges, including religiously aggravated public order offences and possession of Class A drugs.
Protest Crackdown Sparks Outrage
Graham Smith, head of the anti-monarchy Republic campaign, was among those detained. He slammed the Met for having “every intention” of targeting demonstrators. Smith also blasted the new Public Order Act, signed into law just last week. The law lowers the bar for what counts as “serious disruption,” tipping the scales against protest rights.
“The new law means the country no longer has the right to protest,” some activists warn.
Government Backs Police Despite Protests
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the police’s handling of the “dazzling spectacle,” stressing their “operational independence from government.” Sunak was attending a lunch club during the Big Help Out on the Coronation bank holiday.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer defended the Met, saying they struck the “balance right” for such a high-profile international event. Meanwhile, Labour’s Andrew Gwynne admitted the Act handed the police “disproportionate” powers — but stopped short of promising to ditch it if Labour wins power.
Women’s Safety Volunteers Targeted
Among those arrested were women’s safety volunteers after their rape alarms were confiscated, raising eyebrows across Westminster City Council. Caroline Russell, chair of the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee, vowed to grill the Met over these “worrying” arrests.
The fallout continues, as questions mount over the UK’s right to protest under the tightening grip of new legislation.
