People “have every right to protest” against the monarchy after the Queen’s death, police said. Since the proclamation of King Charles III, there have been a few arrests and protesters have moved to London, Scotland and Oxford. Senior Tory MP David Davies is among those who have raised concerns. The former minister wrote to the Chief Constable of Police Scotland yesterday, expressing concern that an anti-monarchy protester had been charged by police.
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The Metropolitan Police issued a statement following a viral video from Parliament Square in central London, when a lawyer holding a white piece of paper asked an officer for his details. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “We are aware of a video online which shows an officer speaking to a member of the public outside the Palace of Westminster earlier today. “The public absolutely have a right to protest and we have made this clear to all officers involved in the emergency police operation currently taking place and will continue to do so. “However, the vast majority of interactions between officers and the public at this time have been positive as people have come to the capital to mourn the loss of Her Late Majesty The Queen.” Paul Powlesland, 36, a lawyer and nature rights activist from Barking, east London, had traveled to the center of the capital on Monday afternoon with “a blank piece of paper”. “Why would you ask for my information?” he is heard asking the officer in one video, who said: “I wanted to make sure you don’t have bail conditions (inaudible).” The officer replied: “You said you would write on it things that might offend the people around the King. It might offend someone.” Mr Poulsland said the officer told him he risked arrest if he wrote “not my king” on the paper. Elsewhere, a 22-year-old woman was charged with breach of the peace after she was arrested during the Proclamation of Accession for the King outside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday. She has been released from custody and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff’s Office at a later date. Simon Hill, 45, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct after shouting “Who elected him?” when he met with a public solemn reading of the proclamation of the King’s accession at Carfax, Oxford. Mr Hill, who works part-time at the Peace Pledge Union, a secular peace organisation, was later released. 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. Footage appeared to show a man disrupting the royal procession as it passed. Meanwhile, a protester carrying a handmade sign reading “not my king” was turned away from the Palace of Westminster by police. The incident happened as the King was due to arrive for his speech to MPs and peers in the Chamber of Westminster on Monday morning. Police spoke to the woman before escorting a team of officers away from the Palace entrance. Under Scottish law, someone can be charged with a public order offense for breach of the peace if their behavior is disorderly and could have a negative impact on bystanders, such as swearing or shouting. In England and Wales, offenses of disorderly conduct – such as threatening or abusive language, behaviour, signs or writing – which are likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others fall under section 5 of the Public Order Act and could result in a fine . Some campaign groups have expressed concern over the way officers are policing protests as the new King is announced, while some warn the arrests may be illegal. 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.”
