The Metropolitan Police have revealed that the 21 individuals who were arrested during the King’s Coronation in London on May 6th will not face any further action. The police force made the arrests in the Mall and Whitehall in an attempt to prevent any potential breach of the peace, as well as to counteract threats of public nuisance. The police came under heavy criticism for their handling of the situation, however they maintained that the arrests were necessary to protect the safety and security of those involved in the event.
The Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Matt Twist, stated that the force had received ‘intelligence’ hours prior to the event that suggested that certain activists and groups were planning to disrupt the procession. This caused “real concerns” for the safety and security of the Coronation attendees and the wider public. Three of those arrested on the day of the event were found near the procession route carrying items such as glue, a banner from a known activist group, and other items which could potentially have been used to commit criminal damage or other disturbances.
Prosecutors concluded that there was “no realistic prospect of conviction” in relation to the 21 individuals that were arrested, leading to the decision not to take any further action. It had been suggested that the arrests of anti-monarchy protesters was an alarming move and raised a number of human rights concerns. The new Public Order Act 2023 had provided the police with additional powers just prior to the Coronation, leading to further criticism and scrutiny.
The King’s Coronation drew huge crowds to central London, including a substantial number of anti-monarchy groups who were determined to make their voices heard. While the subsequent events were largely peaceful, the police were keen to ensure that any potential risk was mitigated as much as possible
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