Metropolitan police officers are to hand out leaflets to demonstrators to provide “absolute clarity” on what will be deemed an offence, as more than 100,000 people are expected to join a pro-Palestine march on Saturday.
More than 1,500 officers will be on duty in London as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) marches from Park Lane to Whitehall in protest against the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Met police said 500 officers from outside London would be on duty.
Officers will be distributing leaflets warning demonstrators against the use of racist abuse and promoting terrorism. They state that “while the majority of people are complying with these rules, a minority have crossed the line”.
The leaflet says to “avoid ending up in our cells”, demonstrators should not use words that “are racist or incite hatred against any faith”, that “support Hamas or any other banned organisation” or “that celebrate or promote acts of terrorism – such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people”.
It says if protesters are in any doubt they should “bin any placard or sign that might break these rules”.
People are also warned not to “deface or damage statues, monuments or other property”.
The Met said under section 12 of the Public Order Act, the procession must not start until 12.30pm and participants must not assemble at Park Lane before this time.
Any person participating must not deviate from the designated route.
The PSC-organised assembly must end no later than 5pm and any participant must not enter the area around the Israeli embassy, the force added.
On Saturday afternoon, there will also be a static protest at the Egyptian embassy in South Street organised by the Hizb ut-Tahrir group, from 1pm to 3.30pm.
Participants have been told to remain in a designated area throughout the protest.
On Sunday, there will be a march against antisemitism, organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, beginning at 1.30pm outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand.
The Met deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan, who will lead the policing operation this weekend, said: “We know a lot more about the cumulative impact of these protests than we did seven weeks ago and that is reflected in our approach.
“The Met supports the right for people to make their voices heard through protest providing it is done lawfully. However, the law also protects people from racist and religious abuse and prohibits the promotion of terrorism.
“While the majority of protesters have complied with these rules, a minority have crossed the line.”
He said the Met had been been “working positively” with organisers, including the PSC, to ensure everyone understood the police’s expectations.
“We are very pleased that the PSC have brought in extra stewards and that they’ve agreed to be clear in their communications about how supporters must behave.”
The Met said it would deploy trained spotters looking out for criminal activity, including placards and clothing with incendiary wording and identifying those responsible.
There have been demonstrations around the UK every weekend since war broke out between Israel and Hamas after Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October.
