The Metropolitan Police issued a statement after a lawyer, Paul Paulsland, filmed an altercation he had with an officer in Parliament Square. The 36-year-old can be heard saying: “Why would you ask for my details?” The officer replies, “So I can check and make sure you can be here. You’ve already said you’ve been arrested once.” Mr Powlesland replies: “No, I said other people had been arrested. I was holding a blank sign. Why are you asking me for details?” The officer says, “Because you said you were going to write things on it that might offend people.” Mr Powlesland says: “I said I would write ‘not my king’ on a sign.” The officer replies, “You might offend someone.” Mr Poulsland said the officer told him he risked arrest if he had gone ahead and written “not my king” on the paper. Read more: Could an anti-monarchy poster get you going after the Queen’s death? Image: A woman holding up a sign on Monday morning Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said the Met was aware of the video. He added: “The public have absolutely the right to protest and we have made that clear to all officers involved in the emergency policing operation that is in place at the moment and will continue to do so.” Earlier in the day, a protester carrying a handmade sign reading “not my king” was turned away from the Palace of Westminster by police. It came as King Charles was due to arrive to address MPs and peers at Westminster Hall yesterday morning. Police spoke to the woman before escorting her away. On Monday afternoon, a 22-year-old man was arrested “in connection with a breach of the peace on the Royal Mile”, Police Scotland said. Ruth Smeeth, chief executive of the Index on Censorship, said the arrests were “deeply worrying”, adding: “The fundamental right to freedom of expression, including the right to protest, is something that must be protected regardless of the circumstances.” Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “If people are arrested simply for holding protest placards then it is an affront to democracy and it is very likely to be illegal.” Jodie Beck, policy and campaigns officer at Liberty, said: “Protest is not a gift from the state, it is a fundamental right. Being able to choose what, how and when to protest is a vital part of a healthy and functioning democracy.”
