Met Police deploy 4,000 officers for London far-right and pro-Palestine demonstrations
Officers granted extra powers as Unite the Kingdom and counter-marches scheduled for same day, raising concerns over potential clashes and incitement of hatred.
The Metropolitan Police are preparing for one of their largest-scale operations in recent memory, deploying 4,000 officers to manage demonstrations in London on the same day as the FA Cup final at Wembley. More than 100,000 protesters are expected to march through the capital, with the force granted extra powers to police the far-right Unite the Kingdom (UTK) march organised by Stephen Yaxley Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.
The UTK march will be held separately from a smaller counter-march by pro-Palestine protesters, which is expected to draw between 15,000 and 40,000 participants. The Metropolitan Police have deployed armoured Sandcat vehicles and drones to support the 4,000 officers on duty, with most resources allocated to policing the UTK event and preventing clashes with counter-protesters. The operation is complicated by the timing of the football final between Manchester City and Chelsea, which kicks off at 3pm.
The scale of the demonstration follows the rise of the far-right, highlighted by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK winning the largest share of votes in recent English council elections. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the rise of the far-right as a “fight for the soul of this country”. The last UTK march in September stunned both organisers and police, with more than 150,000 people occupying Parliament Square in Westminster.
The Muslim Council of Britain has warned of increased risks of violence and hatred against Muslims, urging people to avoid central London this weekend. Secretary General Dr Wajid Akhter stated that irresponsible political rhetoric and toxic social media algorithms act as enabling factors for open racism. The council noted that the previous event featured speakers who openly incited hatred and encouraged civil disobedience.
Police intend to seek prosecutions against organisers for conspiracy if speeches from the stages are judged to incite hatred. The force also believes prosecutors are more likely to agree to charges for antisemitic chants or slogans, such as “globalise the intifada”, which previously led to charges against three individuals. Meanwhile, UTK promoter Nick Lowles of Hope Not Hate warned that Lennon remains a significant political phenomenon, with polling showing he is known by more than 80% of respondents.