Police will deploy trained spotters among thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters converging on London this Saturday after vowing “robust” action against anyone supporting Hamas militants.
Around 1,500 officers, including 500 drafted in from other forces on mutual aid, are policing the National March for Palestine starting on Park Lane at noon.
Demonstrators are returning to the capital demanding a ceasefire in the Middle East following last weekend’s 100 smaller rallies around the UK.
The Cenotaph will again be protected by a barrier surrounding it after unrest on Armistice Day.
The Metropolitan Police said nearly 400 arrests have been made for related offences since Hamas gunmen launched their murderous October 7 assault on Israel killing 1,200 people.
Among them, three women are charged under the Terrorism Act for allegedly displaying images of paragliders indicating support for the banned organisation during a demonstration in Whitehall on October 14. Others have been accused of having racist placards, dressing as terrorists and inciting anti-Semitism.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, gold commander this weekend, said he was pleased organisers the Palestine Solidarity Campaign had agreed to recruit extra volunteer stewards and will be clear in their communications about how supporters must behave on Saturday.
He told reporters: “As you would expect, this sets out that anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested.
“As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation.
“You will see robust intervention from our officers in the event of any criminal activity this weekend.
“There will be trained spotters at specific points of the march looking out for criminal activity, including hate placards and clothing, and identifying those responsible.
“Officers are also looking for opportunities to use retrospective facial recognition which enables us to compare an image caught on CCTV, or other footage, against a vast database of custody images.
“It can be used after an event or incident as part of a criminal investigation and speeds up the identification, and elimination, of suspects. We are finding this technology is accurate and our use of it is improving all the time.”
As a four-day pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas came into effect, PSC director Ben Jamal said: “The temporary truce is welcome but without a permanent ceasefire it could prove to be little more than a stay of execution for thousands more Palestinians including children.
“Now more than ever we need to raise our voices to demand that this truce is made permanent, that the cruel siege on Gaza is lifted and the root causes of the crisis in Palestine are addressed.”
On Sunday, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is organising one of the largest anti-Jewish hatred marches starting at 13.30pm outside the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.
The group’s chief executive Gideon Falter said: “Week after week, central London has become a no-go zone for Jews.
“We have witnessed mass criminality, including glorification of terrorism, support for banned terrorist organisations such as Hamas, and incitement to racial or religious hatred against Jews. The sad truth is that Jews do not feel safe in our capital city.
“Britain is known for its tolerance and decency, and we know that the people of this country stand with the Jewish community in this difficult time. That is why those who stand with British Jews, from up and down the UK, will be marching in London this Sunday in solidarity against antisemitism.”
