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Cases being made against 2,000 protesters arrested for supporting banned group Palestine action A chief has admitted counter-terrorism officers are being put under a “huge burden”.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed the high number of hundreds of arrests made in repeated protests over the government’s decision Ban direct action groups.
About 500 people were dispersed by officers because they were holding placards reading, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine action.” recent performance In Trafalgar Square earlier this month.
This brings to almost 2,000 the total number of people facing possible charges under the Terrorism Act for violating the controversial ban, which is being challenged in the High Court.
Facing questions at the London Assembly on Thursday, Sir Mark said: “We now have about 2,000 people, the majority of whom are pending prosecution decisions by the Attorney General. Some of them are moving in that direction, some of them we are still working on files for.”
“Those files are not the most complex, even if they are terrorism files. But 2000 is very useful.
“It’s a big burden for our counter terrorism team, it’s a big burden for the public order team, it’s a big burden for the Crown Prosecution Service.
“And the courts are indicating many lengthy trials next year, so I’m concerned that the justice system is not moving quickly enough to show that it is taking this seriously.”
His comments came after 28 people pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to supporting a banned group.
It is likely to be the first in a series of complex hearings related to the demonstrations, as judges scramble to find courtrooms to hear hundreds of potential trials.
A total of 138 protesters have been charged so far for supporting the banned group in demonstrations in July, according to the CPS.
It is also possible that the trials could be delayed until the High Court challenge to the group’s ban is concluded.
Sir Mark also told Assembly members that the force faced an “escalating situation” for public order policing in recent years – with an “upward curve” in demonstrations triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s a stretch for the organization, and we’re sharing more of the load but it’s a bigger load to carry.”
Police spending on protests and incidents in September alone was £19.7 million, requiring 21,000 officer shifts.
This takes officers away from their neighborhood duties and can slow response times and investigation of other types of crimes, he said.
Shabana Mehmood earlier this month It was announced that the police would be given more powers To ban repeated protests following the event in Trafalgar Square, which continued despite calls from the police and the Prime Minister for postponement.
The Home Secretary said repeated mass protests in the wake of the Manchester synagogue attack have caused “a lot of fear” for the Jewish community.
He said, “The right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country. However, this freedom must be balanced with the freedom of their neighbors to live their lives without fear.”
“Large, repeated protests may cause certain sections of our country, particularly religious communities, to feel unsafe, intimidated and afraid to leave their homes.”
However, organizers Defend Our Juries responded by promising a “major increase” in their campaign to lift the ban on Palestine action ahead of a High Court legal challenge on 25 November.
A spokesman for the group said it “undermines confidence” that the Home Secretary responded to condemnation of the ban more strongly.
He added, “It confirms what we have warned all along: The ban on Palestine action was never just about one group – it is a dangerous, authoritarian escalation that threatens the right of everyone to protest in our country.”