The Metropolitan Police have issued a stern warning that organisers and speakers at this weekend's Unite the Kingdom and March for Palestine demonstrations will be held responsible for any hate speech. With the FA Cup final also taking place on Saturday, officers expect it to be one of the busiest days for policing in London in recent years.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said a “zero tolerance” operation of “unprecedented” scale will involve 4,000 officers at a cost of £4.5 million. Live facial recognition will be used in Camden where Unite the Kingdom supporters are expected to gather, but not on pro-Palestine marchers. Armed police, helicopters, drones, and other resources will be deployed.
For the first time, police have imposed conditions making organisers responsible for ensuring speakers do not break the law by using hate speech. Harman said: “If hate speech is used at the rally, we, the police will intervene, then and there with the speaker.” People who call for “intifada” or “death to the IDF” face arrest.
Harman noted that many Jewish Londoners feel intimidated by the Palestine protests, while Muslim communities feel scared by the Unite the Kingdom march. He added that the day follows “a sustained campaign of arson targeting Jewish Londoners” and increased concerns in Muslim communities. The operation has been planned for months to keep the two protests apart and minimise intimidation.
