Scotland Yard Defends Arrest Of Anti-Monarchy Protesters At Coronation

London
A total of 52 arrests were made during the Coronation including the head of the country’s largest anti-monarchy group, a move defended by Scotland Yard as part of its efforts to ensure protests did not become criminal or disruptive.
The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday evening that the arrests were made for offences including affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance and the people remain in custody. Among them is Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, who was arrested at Trafalgar Square during a #NotMyKing protest against the crowning of King Charles III.
We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests, said Met Police Commander Karen Findlay, who led the security operation for Coronation Day. However, the Republic group said officers had misconstrued straps meant to secure their signs in place. So much for the right to peaceful protest, it said on Twitter in the wake of the arrests.
Some climate protesters were also among those arrested as part of one of the largest security operations mounted by the Met Police, involving over 11,500 officers on Coronation Day Saturday and a total of 29,000 for the entire long weekend of celebrations. The Met Police hailed the magnificent team effort as thousands of people travelled into central London to watch the procession and mark the historic moment, which the force said went off largely smoothly.